The idea of "finalizing your adoption" can be a confusing one. Basically, it means that you have adopted your child in your state, through the local court system. Once this is done, you can apply for and receive an updated U.S. birth certificate (from the state you live in if you adopted internationally, and from the state the child was born if it is a domestic adoption).

We got to finalize Belane's adoption on Friday, which was nine months and a few days after she came home. Technically we did not have to finalize her adoption or "readopt" her. She came home on an IR-3 visa, which meant she was a U.S. citizen upon arriving in the United States, and that her adoption was full and final. Children receive this type of visa when they were seen in person by both parents before the international part of the adoption was completed.

In many cases, the parents do not see the child in person before the international adoption takes place, so in those cases, the child travels home on an IR-4 visa. When kids come home on an IR-4 visa, then their adoption needs to be finalized in the state of the family in order for the kids to become citizens of the U.S.

Many states have a six month waiting period between placement and when you can finalize the adoption, but not all states do.

Confusing, huh?

So, taking Belane to court on Friday was not really anything more than a formality for us. Her adoption was already final. She was already a U.S. citizen. We did the readoption in our state to simplify the process of changing her name and birth date from her Ethiopian birth certificate and to be able to obtain her new U.S. birth certificate. For Belane, it was a fun excuse to dress up in her favorite Ethiopian dress and have some strangers gush about how cute she is.

Now we're almost done with her paperwork. She already received her Certificate of Citizenship (because of the IR-3 visa). Now we can get her a U.S. passport in her new name and get her a social security number. The paperwork can seem never ending!

Here is some information on adoption paperwork for before, during and after your process:

Paperwork for a Domestic Adoption

Paperwork for an International Adoption

Paperwork for After your International Adoption