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

May 26, 2010

Adoption Notice from the State Department:

Latvia requires periodic post-adoption reporting on the welfare of an adopted orphan in his or her new American family. Latvian law requires that two post-adoption reports be submitted: one after the first year following adoption and one after the second year. The reports should be conducted by the adoptive family’s adoption agency.

The intercountry adoption process requires compliance with the laws of both the United States and the child’s country of origin. While the United States cannot enforce the laws of another country, in order for a strong country-to-country partnership on adoption matters to continue, families and agencies should respect the adoption laws of the child’s country of origin. We strongly encourage agencies to comply with Latvian post-adoption reporting requirements and to submit reports on time. All agencies operating in Latvia have been notified of this requirement. Compliance will help ensure that Latvia’s history of positive experiences with American adoptive families continues.

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.