How are Hague Convention adoptions different from others?

There are many different places and situations from which children can be adopted. In some cases, a child is adopted by relatives who live nearby; in other cases, children are adopted from across the world. In these situations and every situation in between, there are some very specific rules and laws that must be observed to make sure the adoption is legal and the rights of all parties involved are protected.

For example, if you are adopting a child from another country, you need to be aware of the Hague Convention rules and restrictions in place. Failure to comply with the practices established by the Hague Convention could put an adoption and a child in danger.

To back up a little, readers should know that the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption is a treaty signed by several countries, including the U.S., and sets standards for international adoptions. Countries who are part of this treaty have agreed to comply with certain rules in an effort to prevent abductions and the trafficking of children.

This means that if you adopt a child from a country that is also a party to the Hague Convention, then the adoption process will be a bit different than adoptions from countries not bound by this treaty.

Generally speaking, you will have to have to comply with more rigid requirements in terms of home studies, adoption services contracts and providers as well as adoption fees and adoptive parental education.

However, these stricter rules work to provide greater protection for the children and adoptive parents.

For instance, additional steps are taken by Hague countries to determine a child's eligibility for adoption so that he or she is not wrongfully given up for adoption. Further, Hague adoptions involve standards for who can prepare a child's medical records, which must be provided to prospective parents and records of the adoption will be preserved for 75 years.

Considering all that is stake when it comes to adoption, it is recommended that all parties involved have legal support, whether a child is being adopted from across the city or across the globe. Working with an attorney familiar with both domestic and international adoption laws can help people protect their rights as parents and the rights of any child involved.