In 1993, a collection of nations completed talks conducted in The Hague on a more uniform and fair system of regulations and rules regarding international adoption policies and disputes. Since the United States ratified the agreements reached at this convention in 1994 and began fully enforcing these regulations by 2008, citizens of the U.S. have enjoyed a more streamlined, orderly legal process when dealing with international adoptions from countries who are also members of the convention.
What the Adoption Convention Requires
Although largely adding extra responsibilities on the behalf of adoption agencies, this convention on international adoption also has a direct impact on how parents may choose to adopt children from other countries. This convention establishes the following regulations across member nations in regards to international adoption:
- Only federally accredited adoption agencies may apply to the convention’s services
- All federally accredited adoption agencies are required to itemize any expenses involved with the adoption prior to the adoption taking place
- Exceptions to the expected itemized expense process are rare and exceedingly specific
- Any children brought into the United States are cleared for entry through a Hague Adoption Certificate
- Complaint claims are filed through the Department of State
Despite the increased legal fairness, prospective parents will still need to carefully argue their case when looking to adopt a child.
Contact Us
If you’re fighting for fair treatment in your international adoption case, our experienced legal team from Diggs & Sadler may be able to help you with your case. To learn more about how to prepare for these often complicated cases, call 713-766-5355 today.