For a list of Joint Council agencies working in Latvia, please consult our Country Programs page. 

May 2004

In recent years, adoptions from Latvia to the United States have significantly decreased in numbers.  Much of this is due to the strict interpretation of its adoption law.  Latvian Adoption Law requires that a parent-child relationship be established before the court decision is considered final.  However, the interpretation of what constitutes an appropriate time to form that relationship may vary with the different courts.  Prospective parents should be prepared to share a household with their child in Latvia for the time set by that court.

For more information on Latvian adoptions, click here for the Department of State's information flyer.