Rule 5:10-14.Domestic Adoptions and Readoptions of Foreign Citizens
Last amended September 1, 2011 · Current through September 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026
Full Text of Rule 5:10-14
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “Note” beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; a “Source” line names the former rule the current one grew out of, and “R. (1969)” citations refer to the earlier numbering it replaced.
Note: Adopted July 21, 2011 to be effective September 1, 2011.
Plain-English Summary
The complaint conforms to the ordinary contents rule, then adds material specific to an intercountry case. Three allegations are required, each cross-referenced to supporting attachments: whether the case was processed under the Hague Adoption Convention, the type of immigration visa issued, and whether the originating country finalised the adoption or instead granted custody or guardianship for finalisation in the United States.
Four documents accompany it. Either a copy of the foreign adoption judgment or a copy of the conveyance of custody or guardianship, as applicable; the child's birth certificate; the child's immigration visa; and, for Hague cases, the Hague Adoption Certificate or Hague Custody Declaration.
Translation and certification run through all of it. Anything not in English needs an English translation, and each document must be certified as a true and correct copy of the original by the plaintiffs or the attorney of record.
Frequently Asked Questions
What extra must a foreign adoption complaint allege?
Three things: whether the case was processed under the Hague Adoption Convention, the type of immigration visa issued, and whether the originating country finalized the adoption or granted custody or guardianship for finalization in the United States.
What documents accompany a readoption complaint?
The foreign judgment of adoption or the conveyance of custody or guardianship; the child's birth certificate; the child's immigration visa; and for Hague cases the Hague Adoption Certificate or Hague Custody Declaration.
Do foreign-language documents need translation?
Yes. Anything not in English requires an English translation, and each document must be certified as a true and correct copy by the plaintiffs or the attorney of record.