Adoption Certificates

What is attestation of an adoption certificate?

In order to present a document in a country other than where it was originally issued, it must go through a process known as attestation, sometimes known as legalisation. This consists of a series of steps which aims to make the document legally recognised overseas. The steps involved will vary greatly dependent on several factors, including where it was issued, where it will be presented and the purpose of the attestation itself. Things can certainly get cimplicated quickly.

We can help you with the attestation of any adoption certificate issued anywhere within the UK and Ireland. This covers the following registration areas:

England & Wales (General Register Office - GRO)
Scotland (General Register Office for Scotland)
Northern Ireland (General Register Office for N. Ireland)
Eire - Southern Ireland (General Register Office - Ireland)

These processes can be complicated as the steps required can vary from country to country. Our team of specialists can assist you with these procedures to ensure it's done corrently, first time. To order the attestation of an adoption certificate online, start by Choosing a Country

How do I ensure my adoption certificate is ready for the attestation process?

In order to have your adoption attested for use overseas, you will need to present the original document. This must be an official government-issued copy with the General Registry Office (GRO) seal. Photocopies, even if certified by a solicitor or Notary Public will not be accepted.

If you're unsure you have the correct document, you can ready our blog post on the subject here.

Please Note- There can be problems with original adoption certificates that have been issued more than 20 years ago. This can happen if there are difficulties locating a sample signature of the registrar signing the adoption certificate. If time delays are likely to cause significant difficulties to your schedule, you would be advised to seek to have a duplicate issued of the document and have the attestation process carried out on that version. We offer an official duplication service should you need it for a replacement adoption certificate.