Re-Adoption
Confirming and Protecting Your Child’s Adoption — Wherever Your Journey Began
If your child was adopted in another country or jurisdiction, re-adoption provides added security under Nevada law.
Re-adoption allows your family to obtain:
A Nevada adoption order, and
A Nevada Replacement Certificate of Foreign Birth (RCFB)
Together, these documents create clear, uniform legal recognition of your child’s parentage and identity—now and for life.
At The Cooley Law Firm, we guide families through re-adoption with care and precision, ensuring your child’s adoption is fully recognized and protected.
What Is Re-Adoption?
Re-adoption (sometimes called validation or domestication of an adoption) is a court process that confirms an adoption completed elsewhere.
Families often pursue re-adoption when:
Their child was adopted internationally and they now live in Nevada
They want to change the child’s legal name or correct records
They wish to obtain a Nevada Replacement Certificate of Foreign Birth (RCFB)
They want consistent documentation for school, travel, and government agencies
Re-adoption does not undo the original adoption.
It confirms and strengthens it under Nevada law.
Why Re-Adoption Matters
Even when an adoption is valid elsewhere, Nevada may not recognize certain post-adoption changes without a Nevada court order.
Re-adoption ensures:
Recognition by all Nevada courts and agencies
Eligibility for a Nevada RCFB listing both parents in English
Clear proof of parentage and citizenship
Fewer issues with passports, Social Security, schools, and travel
Strong protection for inheritance and estate planning
A Nevada re-adoption order leaves no question about your child’s legal status.
The Re-Adoption Process
We handle every step for you.
Our Services Include:
Filing the Petition for Re-Adoption in the correct Nevada court
Submitting the foreign adoption decree and birth certificate
Preparing certified translations, if required
Drafting affidavits and proof of residency
Requesting issuance of a Nevada Replacement Certificate of Foreign Birth
Coordinating name changes and notifications to agencies
(Vital Records, Social Security, passports)
In most cases, no hearing is required - The court may approve the re-adoption through paper review.
AB 227: Modernized Re-Adoption In Nevada
In 2025, Nevada enacted AB 227, updating adoption laws to simplify recognition of adoptions completed elsewhere.
Under AB 227:
No investigations or home studies are required
Clear procedures exist for confirming international adoptions
Inclusive, gender-neutral language protects all families
Re-adoptions are handled efficiently and consistently
Shelly Booth Cooley helped draft and advocate for AB 227, bringing firsthand insight into how the law is applied in practice.
Why Families Choose The Cooley Law Firm
Experienced Adoption Counsel
Decades of experience in domestic, international, and interstate adoptions.
Legislative Leadership
Direct involvement in AB 227 gives clients a distinct advantage.
Detail-Oriented Representation
Every document, translation, and filing handled with precision.
Compassionate Support
Re-adoption is treated as a meaningful step—not just paperwork.
Making Your Adoption Permanent Everywhere
Your adoption journey may have begun elsewhere.
It deserves to be recognized, respected, and protected in Nevada.
Through re-adoption, The Cooley Law Firm helps ensure your child’s legal identity and parent-child relationship are secure for life.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Contact The Cooley Law Firm to schedule a consultation with Shelly Booth Cooley, a Las Vegas adoption attorney and Adoption & ART Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys.
We are honored to help you make your adoption permanent—everywhere.
