International adoption is a type of adoption in which an individual or couple becomes the legal and permanent parents of a child that is a national of a different country. In general, prospective adoptive parents must meet the legal adoption requirements of their country of residence and those of the country whose nationality the child holds. Adoption is also a

judicial or administrative act that establishes a permanent legal parent-child relationship between a minor and an adult who is not already the minor’s legal parent and terminates the legal parent-child relationship between the adoptive child and any former parent(s). Generally speaking, to qualify as an adoption for immigration purposes, the adopted child has the same rights and privileges as a child born in the United States.

International Adoption is just one of several ways to build your family. In most cases, international adoptions are finalized in the country of origin, so once you come home with your child, he or she is already legally yours. If you are considering adoption from a foreign country the legal status of your adopted child will be finalized in the United States.

The requirements necessary to begin the process of international adoption can vary depending on the country of the adoptive parent(s) and the country of the adopted child. There are usually several requirements after the parents have already taken the child in their home as well, such as paperwork to make the child a legal citizen of the adopting parents' country.

An experienced attorney like Timothy Gambacorta knows the particular procedures and laws of the state in which you live. With his assistance and representation you can be better assured that all the procedures are properly followed in the adoption process.