Adoption Certificate

When a child is adopted, his or her original birth certificate is filed in a sealed adoption record and kept with the state records. A new birth certificate is issued to the child with the adoptive parents' names on it - even in stepchild adoptions. However, before a new birth certificate can be issued the adoption must be finalized. In the interim, an adoption certificate is given to the adoptive parents as a temporary birth certificate.

An adoption certificate has informaiton on it like the date and place of the adoption, the name of the adoptive parents and adoptee and the adoptee's date of birth. The adoption certificate will be signed by a judge at the final adoption hearing and can then be exchanged for a legitimate birth certificate.

This is one of the most important adoption forms because of its relation to the birth certificate and legally binding the child to the parents. A birth certificate is required so often, for school enrollment, insurance and hiring applications among other things.

International adoption certificates are almost always in the language of the country from which the child is being adopted. For the American adoption offices and legal processes, the international adoption certificate will need to be translated and notarized. In order for the child to be approved for citizenship or for the adoption tax credit, the adoption certificate is something considered proof of finalization.