Applying for a Hague Certificate for a Completed International Adoption

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Written and Reviewed by Experts: This article was created, edited and reviewed by trained editorial staff who specialize in translating complex legal topics into plain language.

Thinking about adopting? Here at Rocket Lawyer you can learn about applying for a Hague Certificate for a Completed International Adoption.

The Department of State issues Hague Adoption Certificates which certify that a U.S. adoption has been completed in accordance with the Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act. They entitle the adoption to be recognized in the United States and other Convention countries. Once the receiving country has the Hague Custody Declaration, it may grant the final adoption and issue the certificate.

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You can apply for a Certificate from the U.S. by completing Form DS-5509 Application for a U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate or Custody Declaration. Submit the form and all the supporting documents to the Office of Children's Issues of the Department of State. You can either submit the forms by e-mail to AdoptionUSCA@state.gov or mail them to the address below.

U.S. Department of State
Office of Children's Issues, SA-29
Hague Adoption Unit (HAC/HCD)
2100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 4th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20037

Please note: This page offers general legal information, not but not legal advice tailored for your specific legal situation. Rocket Lawyer Incorporated isn't a law firm or a substitute for one. For further information on this topic, you can Ask a Legal Pro.

Written and Reviewed by Experts: This article was created, edited and reviewed by trained editorial staff who specialize in translating complex legal topics into plain language.

At Rocket Lawyer, we believe legal information should be both reliable and easy to understand—so you don't need a law degree to feel informed. We follow a rigorous editorial policy to ensure every article is helpful, clear, and as accurate and up-to-date as possible.

About this page:

This article was written and reviewed by Rocket Lawyer editorial staff
This article was last reviewed or updated on Mar 07, 2023

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