The court must not enter a decree of adoption until the adopting parents furnish to the court a completed certificate of adoption on the form furnished by the department of vital statistics.
Rule 58.2.Certificate of adoption
Title VII: Judgment · Last amended July 1, 2016 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 58.2 bars a court from entering an adoption decree until the adopting parents submit a completed certificate of adoption on the state's official form.
Full Text of Rule 58.2
Amendment History
(Adopted March 1, 2016, effective July 1, 2016.)
Plain-English Summary
Adoption cases end with a decree that legally establishes the new parent-child relationship, but Rule 58.2 adds a bureaucratic prerequisite before that decree can be entered. The adopting parents must first turn in a completed certificate of adoption, using the form supplied by the state's department of vital statistics.
This requirement exists to keep the state's vital records accurate. The certificate feeds into the official record-keeping system, so a child's legal identity and family history are properly documented going forward. Until that paperwork is complete, the court withholds the final decree.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must happen before a court can finalize an adoption?
The adopting parents must submit a completed certificate of adoption on the form provided by the department of vital statistics before the court will enter the adoption decree.
Where does the certificate of adoption form come from?
It comes from the department of vital statistics, the state office responsible for maintaining official birth, death, and adoption records.
Why does the court require this certificate before entering the decree?
The certificate ensures the state's vital records accurately reflect the child's new legal parentage, which matters for future records like birth certificates.
Who is responsible for filling out and submitting the certificate?
The adopting parents are responsible for furnishing the completed certificate to the court.
Can a court enter an adoption decree without the certificate?
No. The rule states plainly that the court must not enter the decree until the certificate is furnished.
Source & verification. Rule text
are reproduced verbatim from the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Idaho. Last verified July 14, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: adoption decree idahocertificate of adoptionadoption paperwork requirementfinalizing an adoption idahoidaho adoption rule