Section 8919 Of Chapter 4. Intercountry Adoptions From California Family Law Code >> Division 13. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 4.
8919
. (a) Each state resident who adopts a child through an
intercountry adoption that is finalized in a foreign country shall
readopt the child in this state if it is required by the Department
of Homeland Security. Except as provided in subdivision (c), the
readoption shall include, but is not limited to, at least one
postplacement in-home visit, the filing of the adoption petition, the
intercountry adoption court report, accounting reports, the home
study report, and the final adoption order. If the adoptive parents
have already completed a home study as part of their adoption
process, a copy of that study shall be submitted in lieu of a second
home study. No readoption order shall be granted unless the court
receives a copy of the home study report previously completed for the
international finalized adoption by an adoption agency authorized to
provide intercountry adoption services pursuant to Section 8900. The
court shall consider the postplacement visit or visits and the
previously completed home study when deciding whether to grant or
deny the petition for readoption.
(b) Each state resident who adopts a child through an intercountry
adoption that is finalized in a foreign country may readopt the
child in this state. Except as provided in subdivision (c), the
readoption shall meet the standards described in subdivision (a).
(c) (1) A state resident who adopts a child through an
intercountry adoption that is finalized in a foreign country with
adoption standards that meet or exceed those of this state, as
certified by the State Department of Social Services, may readopt the
child in this state according to this subdivision. The readoption
shall include one postplacement in-home visit and the final adoption
order.
(2) The petition to readopt may be granted if all of the following
apply:
(A) The adoption was finalized in accordance with the laws of the
foreign country.
(B) The resident has filed with the petition a copy of both of the
following:
(i) The decree, order, or certificate of adoption that evidences
finalization of the adoption in the foreign country.
(ii) The child's birth certificate and visa.
(C) A certified translation is included of all documents described
in this paragraph that are not in English.
(3) If the court denies a petition for readoption, the court shall
summarize its reasons for the denial on the record.
(d) The State Department of Social Services shall certify whether
the adoption standards in the following countries meet or exceed
those of this state:
(1) China
(2) Guatemala
(3) Kazakhstan
(4) Russia
(5) South Korea
(e) In addition to the requirement or option of the readoption
process set forth in this section, each state resident who adopts a
child through an intercountry adoption which is finalized in a
foreign country may obtain a birth certificate in the State of
California in accordance with the provisions of Section 102635 or
103450 of the Health and Safety Code.