{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-317","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 16-317","heading":"Recognition of foreign adoptions and elective petitions for District adoption.","body":"(a)\n(1)\nA 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 the District as that given to a judgment of adoption entered by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, without additional proceedings or documentation if the:\n(A)\nAdopting parent is a resident of the District of Columbia; and\n(B)\nValidity of the foreign adoption has been verified by the granting of an IR-3 immigrant visa, or a successor immigrant visa, for the child by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.\n(2)\nThe foreign adoption that meets the requirement of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be considered final under the laws of the District of Columbia and, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no further petition for an adoption decree shall be required in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.\n(3)\nThe Department of Health shall issue a birth certificate for the child upon:\n(A)\nRequest by the adoptive parent;\n(B)\nPresentation of evidence that the adoptive parent is a resident of the District of Columbia; and\n(C)\nPresentation of evidence that the child was granted an IR-3 immigrant visa, or a successor immigrant visa, by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nNotwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, an adoptive parent may elect to file a petition for a District adoption decree with the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.\n(2)\nIf the foreign adoption meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the court shall issue:\n(A)\nA finding of fact on the foreign adoption, including the:\n(i)\nName of the adoptive parent;\n(ii)\nName or names of the child;\n(iii)\nReported birth date of the child;\n(iv)\nCountry of the child’s birth;\n(v)\nCountry and the date of the foreign adoption; and\n(vi)\nDate and issuance of an IR-3 immigrant visa, or a successor immigrant visa, for the child by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and\n(B)\nAn adoption decree to the petitioner.\n(3)\nA petition for a District adoption decree pursuant to this subsection may be combined with a petition for a name change.\n(4)\nA petition for an adoption decree issued pursuant to this subsection shall be placed on an expedited calendar to ensure minimal expense of time and money to the petitioning party in attaining a adoption decree.","path":["Title 16. Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]","Chapter 3. Adoption."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/16-317","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"011c169a90dbd1e48f04fe7bb6b6a38123cf30c2b5c1a45fb6f898c179544f04","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-316","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-318"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}