Why should I have my international adoption recognized in the United States?
Daneille’s Answer: Why recognize the adoption in the United States? The legal proceeding for recognition of the foreign adoption under Florida law culminates in the entry of a Final Judgment by a Florida Circuit Court recognizing the finality and permanence of the adoption, thereby securing the recognition of a legal parent/child relationship under the law in the United States. Such a court order, entered by a U.S. court, is unassailable, unlike the foreign judgment that potentially could be subject to question in the event relations were to deteriorate between the United States and the child’s country of origin at any time in the future. In addition, the Florida court’s order permits the issuance by Florida Vital Statistics of a Florida birth certificate for the child, termed a Certificate of Foreign Birth. This Florida vital record for the child, like the Florida court order, is unassailable. Additionally, many parents appreciate having a Florida birth certificate when registering their child for school, Little League, and other activities requiring a birth certificate.
More about Daneille: Danielle joined the firm in 2002 and is a paralegal who works in the Naples office, handling the needs of our clients in Southwest Florida. Daneille has been working in the legal system since 1983 and received her paralegal certificate of completion from Florida International University in 1986. She received her Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) status in 1987 from the National Association of Legal Assistants and in 1988 from the Florida Association of Legal Assistants. Daneille is also a Florida Registered Paralegal.