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Gill Measure Would Afford Increased Rights To Foreign Adoptions

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Nia H. Gill that would provide the foreign adoptions the same rights afforded to those done domestically was unanimously approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens committee.

“This is a bill that ensures family stability,” said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic. “This bill would make New Jersey family law consistent with the spirit of the Federal Child Citizenship Act. Families would no longer have to go through a process of re-adopting their children.”

Senator Gill’s measure, S-285, would afford the same rights to adoptions of foreign born children as those granted to adoptions conducted in New Jersey and across the United States. It would amend current law and provide that New Jersey’s adoptive parents would no longer be required to petition courts for adoptions of foreign born child as long as the child was legally adopted in a country other than the U.S. and the child’s immigration and citizenship status is in tact with any necessary immigrant visas.

Courts would be required to honor the foreign adoptions as long as adoptive parents file the necessary petitions in court and include any necessary documents, including a judgement of adoption, guardianship or the termination of parental rights. New birth certificates would also be issued if necessary.

“All children deserve stability and the chance to thrive with a family that truly cares for them,” Senator Gill said.

This measure now heads to the full Senate for further consideration.