{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "nycrr", "section": "207.55", "citation": "Uniform Rules § 207.55", "heading": "Papers required in an adoption proceeding", "text": ["(a) All papers submitted in an adoption proceeding shall comply with section 207.4 of this Part.", "(b) In addition to those papers required by the Domestic Relations Law, the following papers, unless otherwise dispensed with by the court, shall be submitted and filed prior to the placement of any adoption proceeding on the calendar:", "(1) a certified copy of the birth certificate of the adoptive child;", "(2) an affidavit or affidavits by an attorney admitted to practice in the State of New York, or, in the discretion of the court, by a person other than an attorney who is known to the court, identifying each of the parties;", "(3) a certified marriage certificate, where the adoptive parents are husband and wife or where an individual adoptive parent is the spouse of the natural parent;", "(4) a certified copy of a decree or judgment, where an adoptive parent's marriage has been terminated by decree or judgment;", "(5) a certified death certificate, where an adoptive or natural parent's marriage has been terminated by death or where it is alleged that consent or notice is not required because of death;", "(6) a proposed order of adoption;", "(7) a copy of the attorney's affidavit of financial disclosure filed with the Office of Court Administration pursuant to section 603.23, 691.23, 806.14 or 1022.33 of this Title; and", "(8) an affidavit of financial disclosure from the adoptive parent or parents, and from any person whose consent to the adoption is required by law, setting forth the following information:", "(i) name, address and telephone number of the affiant;", "(ii) status of the affiant in the proceeding and relationship, if any, to the adoptive child;", "(iii) docket number of adoption proceeding;", "(iv) the date and terms of every agreement, written or otherwise between the affiant and any attorney pertaining to any fees, compensation or other remuneration paid or to be paid by or on behalf of the adoptive parents or the natural parents, directly or indirectly, including but not limited to retainer fees on account of or incidental to the placement or adoption of the child or assistance in arrangements for such placement or adoption;", "(v) the date and amount of any fees, compensation or other remuneration paid, and the total amount of fees, compensation or other remuneration to be paid to such attorney by the affiant, directly or indirectly, on account of or incidental to the placement or adoption of the child or assistance in arrangements for such placement or adoption;", "(vi) the name and address of any other person, agency, association, corporation, institution, society or organization who received or will receive any fees, compensation or other remuneration from the affiant, directly or indirectly, on account of or incidental to the birth or care of the adoptive child, the pregnancy or care of the adoptive child's mother or the placement or adoption of the child and on account of or incidental to assistance in arrangements for such placement or proposed adoption, the amount of each such fee, compensation or other remuneration; and the reason for or services rendered if any, in connection with each such fee, compensation or other remuneration;", "(vii) the name and address of any person, agency, association, corporation, society or organization who has or will pay the affiant any fee, compensation or other remuneration, directly or indirectly, on account of or incidental to the birth or care of the adoptive child, the pregnancy or care of the adoptive child's mother, or the placement or adoption of the child and on account of or incidental to assistance in arrangements for such placement or adoption; the amount of each such fee, compensation or other remuneration; and the reason for or services rendered, if any, in connection with each such fee, compensation or other remuneration; and", "(9) in the case of an adoption from an authorized agency in accordance with title 2 of article 7 of the Domestic Relations Law, a copy of the criminal history summary report made by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to the authorized agency pursuant to section 378-a of the Social Services Law regarding the criminal record or records of the prospective adoptive parent or parents and any adult over the age of 18 currently residing in the home.", "(c) Prior to the signing of an order of adoption, the court may in its discretion require the filing of a supplemental affidavit by the adoptive parent or parents, or any person whose consent to the adoption is required, the authorized agency and the attorney for any of the aforementioned, setting forth any additional information pertaining to allegations in the petition or in any affidavit filed in the proceeding."], "official_source": "https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-207-uniform-rules-surrogates-court", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "This rule lists the papers needed in a Surrogate's Court **adoption** proceeding.\n- **(a)** All adoption papers **shall comply with section 207.4**.\n- **(b)** Besides papers the **Domestic Relations Law** requires, these **shall be filed before the case is calendared**, unless the court dispenses with them: ★\n  - **(1)** a **certified copy of the child's birth certificate**;\n  - **(2)** affidavit(s) **identifying each party** by a **NY-admitted attorney** or, in the court's discretion, a **non-attorney known to the court**;\n  - **(3)** a **certified marriage certificate** if the adoptive parents are husband and wife or a single adoptive parent is the **spouse of the natural parent**;\n  - **(4)** a **certified copy of the decree or judgment** if an adoptive parent's marriage **ended by decree or judgment**;\n  - **(5)** a **certified death certificate** if an adoptive or natural parent's marriage **ended by death**, or consent or notice is claimed unnecessary **because of death**;\n  - **(6)** a **proposed order of adoption**;\n  - **(7)** the **attorney's affidavit of financial disclosure** filed with **OCA** under **section 603.23, 691.23, 806.14 or 1022.33**;\n  - **(8)** an **affidavit of financial disclosure** from the **adoptive parent(s)** and **anyone whose consent is required**, giving: **(i)** name, address, phone; **(ii)** status in the case and relationship to the child; **(iii)** docket number; **(iv)** the date and terms of **every agreement, written or otherwise, with any attorney** about fees paid or to be paid, **directly or indirectly**, for the placement or adoption, including **retainers**; **(v)** the date and amount of fees **paid**, and the **total to be paid**, to that attorney, directly or indirectly; **(vi)** **who else received or will receive pay** from the affiant tied to the **child's birth or care**, the **mother's pregnancy or care**, or the placement or adoption, with **amounts and reasons**; **(vii)** **who has paid or will pay the affiant** for those things, with **amounts and reasons**; ★\n  - **(9)** in an **authorized agency** adoption under **title 2 of DRL article 7**, the **OCFS criminal history summary report** (under **Social Services Law 378-a**) on the **prospective adoptive parent(s)** and **any adult over 18 living in the home**. ★\n- **(c)** **Before signing the adoption order**, the court **may**, in its discretion, **require a supplemental affidavit** from the adoptive parent(s), anyone whose consent is required, the **authorized agency**, and the **attorney** for any of them, giving **any additional information** about allegations in the petition or in any affidavit filed in the proceeding.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/nycrr/207.55", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}