The Hague Convention and Illinois Adoption

 Posted on September 04, 2014 in Children

Deciding to adopt takes courage and unconditional love. Deciding to adopt internationally requires deep conviction, patience and, of course, unconditional love.

Setting the wheels in motion requires an experienced intercountry adoption attorney, an accredited adoption agency and a strong understanding of the Hague Convention.

As per the Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State, the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption Convention is an international agreement to safeguard intercountry adoptions. As concluded in 1993 in the Netherlands, the Convention established international standards of practices for all adoptions conducted between participating countries. Although intercountry adoptions can be initiated with countries not participating in the Hague Convention, those who choose to adopt from participating countries often receive greater protections during the adoption process.

The Hague Convention, since its inception, has assisted with 11,890 intercountry adoptions to date. Before making your final commitment to initiating an intercountry adoption, it is highly advisable to enlist the services of a qualified adoption attorney knowledgeable of intercountry adoptions and to familiarize yourself with the role of the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

The Role of Your Attorney

The role of your attorney is to guide you through the international adoption process as your legal advocate. Although the majority of tasks will be completed by an Illinois accredited adoption agency, your attorney will keep you abreast of advancements and requests for specific information.

The Role of the U.S. Office of Children’s Issues (CI)

With over 75 participating countries, the primary role of the CI is to inform prospective parents of intercountry adoption with country specific information, the issuance of adoption notices, and alerts and educational information on the overall process.

Through combined efforts of your attorney and CI, you will become familiarized with all laws and regulations of both the process and the country you have chosen to adopt from as well as receiving assistance when selecting an accredited adoption agency to handle all documentation.

The adoption process, whether initiated on the home front or across the Atlantic, is a major life decision. If you have decided to move forward with an intercountry adoption, take it one step at a time. The CI has made available to all prospective parents a guide to intercountry adoption.