N.Y. Domestic Relations Law § 111-c: Adoption order from foreign country or foreign jurisdiction

§ 111-c. Adoption order from foreign country or foreign jurisdiction.

1. A final judgment of adoption granted by a judicial, administrative or

executive body of a jurisdiction or country other than the United States

shall have the same force and effect in this state as that given to a

judgment of adoption entered by a court of competent jurisdiction of New

York state, without additional proceedings or documentation provided:

(a) either adopting parent is a resident of this state; and

(b) the validity of the foreign adoption has been verified by the

granting of an IR-3, IH-3, or a successor immigrant visa, for the child

by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule or regulation to

the contrary, an adoptive parent referred to in subdivision one of this

section shall not be required to petition a court in this state for

adoption of the child provided the conditions of paragraphs (a) and (b)

of subdivision one of this section are met. The foreign adoption shall

be considered "final" under the laws of New York state upon the

satisfaction of paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision one of this

section.

3. Either adoptive parent or a guardian or a guardian ad litem may

register the order in this state with the judge or surrogate of the

county in which the adoptive parent or parents reside. A petition for

registration of a foreign adoption order may be combined with a petition

for a name change. If the court finds that the foreign adoption order

meets the requirements of subdivision one of this section, the court

shall issue a finding as to aspects of the foreign adoption, to wit, the

names of the adoptive parents, the name or names and reported birth date

of the adoptive child, the country of the adoptive child's birth, the

country and the date of the foreign adoption, the state residency of the

adoptive parent or parents and adoptive child, and a finding as to the

date and issuance of an IR-3, IH-3, or a successor immigrant visa; and,

the court shall issue an order of adoption to the party who has

petitioned for such an order.

4. The judge or surrogate is hereby directed to expedite the issuance

of an order of adoption pursuant to the provisions of subdivision three

of this section in order to ensure minimal expense of time and money to

the petitioning parties in attaining such order of adoption.