Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption enters into force for the United States.

• Author: Crook, John R.

In April 2008, the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions entered into force for the United States. A Department of State note summarizing the consequences follows:

Today, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption enters into force in the United States. The provisions of the Hague Convention now govern both incoming and outgoing intercountry adoptions between the United States and other Convention countries. The Hague Convention establishes international norms and procedures for processing intercountry adoption cases involving more than 70 Convention member countries. It mandates safeguards to protect the interests of children, birth parents, and adoptive parents. It also provides that member nations recognize adoptions that take place within other Convention countries. As the designated Central Authority for the United States, the Department of State is responsible for ensuring that these new requirements are met for all intercountry adoption cases under the Hague Convention involving a U.S. adoptive parent or child. Membership in the Convention will change the U.S. intercountry adoption process with respect to other Convention countries in many ways, including:

* Establishing federal accreditation of adoption service providers, through...