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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§14931 Adoptions of Children Immigrating to the United States

Title 42 › CHAPTER 143 — INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS › SUBCHAPTER III — RECOGNITION OF CONVENTION ADOPTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES › § 14931

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of State must give a certificate to a U.S. adoptive parent for each Hague Convention adoption after getting proper notice from the child’s country and confirming the Convention’s and this law’s rules were met. For a prospective adoptive parent, the certificate can show that legal custody was granted so the child can emigrate for adoption. If attached to the original adoption decree, the certificate is treated as conclusive proof by federal and state agencies, courts, and others. A final Convention adoption certified by the Secretary is valid under all U.S. laws. State courts may not enter a final adoption order for a child who came from another Convention country for adoption until the Secretary has issued this certificate.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §14931

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Legal effect of certificates issued by the Secretary of State
(1)Issuance of certificates by the Secretary of State
The Secretary of State shall, with respect to each Convention adoption, issue a certificate to the adoptive citizen parent domiciled in the United States that the adoption has been granted or, in the case of a prospective adoptive citizen parent, that legal custody of the child has been granted to the citizen parent for purposes of emigration and adoption, pursuant to the Convention and this chapter, if the Secretary of State—
(A)receives appropriate notification from the central authority of such child’s country of origin; and
(B)has verified that the requirements of the Convention and this chapter have been met with respect to the adoption.
(2)Legal effect of certificates
If appended to an original adoption decree, the certificate described in paragraph (1) shall be treated by Federal and State agencies, courts, and other public and private persons and entities as conclusive evidence of the facts certified therein and shall constitute the certification required by section 1154(d)(2) of title 8.
(b)Legal effect of Convention adoption finalized in another Convention country
A final adoption in another Convention country, certified by the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or section 14932(c) of this title, shall be recognized as a final valid adoption for purposes of all Federal, State, and local laws of the United States.
(c)Condition on finalization of Convention adoption by State court
In the case of a child who has entered the United States from another Convention country for the purpose of adoption, an order declaring the adoption final shall not be entered unless the Secretary of State has issued the certificate provided for in subsection (a) with respect to the adoption.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 106–279, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 825, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 14901 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective upon entry into force for the United States of the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, pursuant to Article 46(2)(a) of the Convention, with transition rule, see section 505(a)(2), (b) of Pub. L. 106–279, set out as an

Effective Date

s; Transition Rule note under section 14901 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 14931

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110