State Authorities' and Judges' Guide to Outgoing Convention Cases

The Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008. The Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA) and its implementing regulations establish the procedures and requirements for Convention adoptions both to ("incoming") and from ("outgoing") the United States. An outgoing Convention adoption means the adoption of a child resident in the United States by an individual or individuals residing in a Convention country when, in connection with the adoption, the child has moved or will move between the United States and the Convention country.

The State Authorities' and Judges' Guide to Outgoing Cases provides information for State officials and State court judges on processing outgoing adoptions to which the Convention applies. Additional information about outgoing adoptions from the United States is available in the Adoptions from the U.S. section of this website. Questions may be submitted to the Office of Children's Issues by email to Adoption@state.gov.

State Authorities' Guide to Outgoing Convention Cases

Last Updated: August 5, 2021