New Jersey Attorneys Handling Foreign Adoptions
Experienced Counsel to Families in Re-adoption and Confirmation Proceedings
If you have adopted a child from China, Guatemala, Eastern Europe or anywhere outside of the United States, there are specific steps you can take to protect your interests. Cofsky & Zeidman LLC, can help.
At Cofsky & Zeidman, LLC, we have provided comprehensive legal counsel to prospective adoptive parents and to birth parents for more than 1,500 families involved in adoption proceedings. A Fellow and Past President of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, Donald C. Cofsky has also been named an Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition for Adoption in Washington, D.C. He is AV-rated by other attorneys under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System, its highest for legal ability and ethics, and has been lauded as a New Jersey Super Lawyer, as well as an Awesome Attorney by South Jersey Magazine and a Top Attorney by SJ Magazine.
For a private meeting, contact us by e-mail or call us at (856) 429-5005 in Haddonfield, NJ at (856) 845-2555 in Woodbury, NJ or in Philadelphia, PA at (215) 563-2150.
Protecting Your Rights after a Foreign Adoption
Whether or not you will be required to file for re-adoption of your child depends on the type of visa issued to your child. An IR-3 or IH-3 visa indicates that the adoption was completed in the child’s home country and that both adoptive parents or single parent had an opportunity to observe the child in his or her native country before the adoption. With an IR-3 or IH-3 visa there is no requirement of re-adoption in the United States, although for a number of reasons we strongly recommend it. If, however, only one parent travels to see the child in his or her home country, or other requirements are not met, an IR-4 or IH-4 visa will be issued, and the adoption must be completed (through a re-adoption) in the United States. Even if you brought your child into the United States on an IR-3 or IH-3 visa, we recommend that you file for re-adoption so that you have an official judgment of adoption from a state court in the United States.
When you file for re-adoption, your lawyer will arrange for a state birth certificate to be issued. At this time you can also request a legal name change for the child which will appear on the new birth certificate.
Contact Our Office
If you have questions or concerns about a foreign adoption, contact the experienced and knowledgeable attorneys at Cofsky & Zeidman, LLC. You can reach us in Haddonfield, NJ at (856) 429-5005 or in Woodbury, NJ at (856) 845-2555. We can also be reached in Philadelphia, PA at (215) 563-2150 or by e-mail. Our offices are open weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Weekend and evening appointments may be arranged upon request.