State Recognition of Intercountry Adoptions Finalized Abroad - New Hampshire

Effect and Recognition of a Foreign Adoption Decree

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 170-B:29

A decree of court establishing the relationship of parent and child by adoption issued pursuant to due process of law by a court of any other jurisdiction within or without the United States shall be recognized in this State, and the rights and obligations of the parties as to matters within the jurisdiction of this State shall be determined as though the decree was issued by a court of this State.

Readoption After an Intercountry Adoption

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 170-B:27(II)

The court may validate and issue an adoption decree for an adoption finalized in another jurisdiction, provided that evidence is produced to the court to demonstrate the validity of such adoption. For the purposes of this paragraph, satisfactory evidence includes documentation from the U.S. Department of Justice or the U.S. Department of State that a legal adoption has been completed in another country. Probate court rules shall specify such acceptable documentation.

Application for a U.S. Birth Certificate

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 5-C:34

The registrar shall establish a New Hampshire certificate of foreign birth for a person born in a foreign country and for whom a final decree of adoption has been issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in New Hampshire. This certificate of foreign birth shall be established and registered and a certified copy of such certificate issued when the registrar receives a request from the adoptive parents or adopted person if he or she is age 18 or older.

A completed application shall include:

• The county of the probate court
• The name of the child prior to adoption
• The names of the adoptive parents
• The date the adoption was approved by the probate court
• The full name of the child after adoption
• The child's sex and date of birth
• The city or town, the State or local equivalent, and the country of the child's place of birth
• Information from both adoptive parents, or one parent in the case where only one parent is adopting, including each parent's full name, the full maiden name of the adoptive mother (if applicable), each parent's date and place of birth, each parent's residence address, each parent's signature, and the date signed
• The signature of a justice of the peace or the signature and seal of a notary public

The applicant shall attach the following documents to the completed application:

• A report of adoption, as required by § 170-B:22
• A certified copy of the original adoption decree
• The child's alien registration card
• The documents used to establish the date and place of birth, such as an English translation of the original birth certificate, a copy of an adoption report from the adoption agency, or any report issued by the government of the country of birth describing facts known regarding the origin of the child