We recently just started the re-adoption process for Maya and Keira here in Indiana. This is required in most states for any foreign adoption your child travels back to the US on an IR-4 visa. With our first adoption we paid a lawyer $500 to do it. This time after learning about the process we decided to do it ourselves and save the money. It's actually an easy process that will only take 2-3 hours of your time between filling out the paperwork and going to government center. Since a lot of people have contacted us about this here are the details on how the process works.
The Forms
You will need these forms (note these are all specific to Indiana):
Record of Adoption
Medical History Form
Order Recognizing Foreign Adoption
Petition Recognizing Foreign Adoption
Contact Person
As of October 2009 this is the current contact for questions or issues related to re-adopting in the state of Indiana:
Denise Safford
Mental Health & Adoption Coordinator
Marion County Superior Court 8
Probate Division
317-327-5015; fax 317-327-4512; DSAFFORD@indy.gov
What To Do
Directions on filling out the forms and what to do with them are below. This is text copied directly from an email I received from Denise:
Please complete the Petition and bring to court the original (notarized) and 3 copies. Complete the Order (except for the judge signature!!) and bring the original and 3 copies. Complete the Record of Adoption (ROA) and just print off one copy – bring with you to court. There is no filing fee, however you need to bring two (2) separate checks for the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). The first check is for $20.00 and is for the upkeep of the state registry. The second check is for the actual birth certificate – one copy will cost $10.00, if you want two (2) copies the cost is $14.00 and three (3) copies are $18.00 – this is a per child cost. Every time the petition, order or record of adoption asks for the child’s name it means the name of the child PRIOR to the adoption in the foreign country. You will see where the name changes from “A” to “B” on all three documents. For the ROA just complete parts I & II – I will complete part III after the paperwork has been completed and filed. The petition asks for certain documents – you may attach copies (with the English translation). You want to keep your originals in your own personal file.
Please print the medical history PDF file and complete it and then make a copy. You may not know any of the child’s history so just leave it blank, but please sign the form and date it. Bring both the original and copy to court.
When you come to court, please come to room 1721 on the 17th floor of the City-County
Building. You will have to go through security so please refrain from bring anything into the building that you would normally not be taking into an airport. Ask the bailiff to see a commissioner for domesticating a foreign adoption.
Thank you for this information. We recently moved here from FL and are needing to readopt our newest. I am praying this will work for us!
Posted by: jana | April 19, 2010 at 01:11 PM