Confirmatory Adoptions and Readoptions in Nevada

Part of my Nevada Adoption Overview.

By Ronald W. Brilliant, Attorney at Law · Licensed in Idaho, Nevada & California · Last reviewed: September 2026 against Nevada Revised Statutes chapters 127A through 127G and 128 (current through the 2025 legislative session)

In This TopicNevada AdoptionTopic 6 of 10: Confirmatory & Readoption

Nevada’s chapter 127E, added in 2025, covers two kinds of adoption for people who are already treated as a child’s parent in some way. A confirmatory adoption is an adoption where the petitioner is already a parent of the child, either through a court order or presumptively, and asks the court to confirm parentage through an adoption or readoption (NRS 127A.080). A readoption is an adoption where the petitioner already obtained an order of adoption for the child from a court of another country (NRS 127A.125).

Chapter 127E applies in addition to the general adoption rules in chapter 127A (NRS 127E.050). NRS 127E.100 to 127E.130 and 127E.300 govern confirmatory adoptions, and NRS 127E.200, 127E.210 and 127E.300 govern readoptions (NRS 127E.050). The general procedures in NRS 127A.160 to 127A.430 also apply to both (NRS 127A.150(4)).

Confirmatory Adoptions

Who Qualifies

A confirmatory adoption may be sought in Nevada if the child’s birth certificate was issued in Nevada (NRS 127E.100). The petitioner must already be a parent of the child through a court order or presumptively (NRS 127A.080). How parentage is established or presumed under Nevada law is explained on the parentage page.

What the Petition Must Include

A petition for a confirmatory adoption must include any information required by NRS 127C.380, plus a statement of how parentage has already been established (NRS 127E.110). NRS 127C.380 calls for a petition to state, in substance (NRS 127C.380(2)):

• The full name and age of the petitioners.
• The age of the child and the date the child was placed with the petitioners.
• That the petitioners want the relationship of parent and child established between them and the child.
• Any new name desired for the child.
• That the petitioners are fit and proper persons to have care and custody of the child and are financially able to provide for the child.
• That there has been full compliance with the law on termination of parental rights, specific consent to adoption or relinquishment as to all parents.
• Whether the petitioners have reason to know the child is an Indian child.
• That there are no known signs the child is currently a victim of human trafficking, exploitation or abuse.
• Whether there is a postadoptive contact agreement, and whether there is an order for visitation by a sibling or other relative.

Proof of Parentage

A copy of one of the following must be placed in the record of the confirmatory adoption (NRS 127E.120(1)):

• The child’s birth certificate listing the prospective adoptive parent as a parent;
• A court order establishing parentage of the child; or
• Any other evidence the court deems sufficient to establish parentage of the child.

The document or other evidence placed in the record for this purpose is confidential (NRS 127E.120(2)).

The Order

An order of confirmatory adoption must confirm each legal parent of the child (NRS 127E.130(1)). If the petition requested a new name for the child, the order must also confirm the child’s new name (NRS 127E.130(2)).

Readoptions

Who Qualifies

A petitioner, and any spouse of the petitioner, who adopts a child through an intercountry adoption may petition to readopt the child in Nevada (NRS 127E.200(1)). An “intercountry adoption” is the process by which a person adopts a child in another country by permanent legal means and brings the child back to live permanently with the person (NRS 127E.200(2)).

What the Petition Must Include

A petition for readoption must include any information required by NRS 127C.380, listed above (NRS 127E.210(1)). It must also be supported by (NRS 127E.210(2)):

• A copy of any order or certificate of adoption showing that the adoption was finalized in the foreign country;
• The child’s birth certificate; and
• A certified translation of either of those documents if it is not in English.

Families adopting a child from another state, rather than another country, should see the interstate adoptions page.

Report of Adoption for a New Birth Certificate

After an order of confirmatory adoption or readoption is entered, the court must direct the petitioner or the petitioner’s attorney to prepare a report of adoption (NRS 127E.300(1)). The report is on a form prescribed and furnished by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics or the equivalent office in the state that issued the birth certificate (NRS 127E.300(1)).

The report may identify the original birth certificate, provide enough information to prepare a new birth certificate, identify the order of adoption, and be certified by the clerk of the court (NRS 127E.300(1)(a)–(d)). If an order of adoption is later amended or annulled, the petitioner or the attorney must prepare a report to the State Registrar identifying the original order and the provisions that were amended or annulled (NRS 127E.300(2)).

General Rules That Also Apply

Because chapter 127A applies to both confirmatory adoptions and readoptions, several general rules carry over (NRS 127E.050, 127A.150(4)):

• Nevada district courts have original jurisdiction in adoption proceedings, except as provided in NRS 125E.270 (NRS 127A.200).
• Siblings may be included in one petition by the same petitioners (NRS 127A.210).
• Hearings are confidential and held in closed court, and the court’s adoption files and records are generally not open to inspection without a court order (NRS 127A.230(1), (2)).
• An order of adoption is a final judgment (NRS 127A.240).
• Upon entry of the order, the child becomes the legal child of the adopting persons, with inheritance rights as though the child were their biological child (NRS 127A.250(1), (2)).
• The adoption does not change the relationship between the child and any parent who is a petitioner and whose parental rights have not been terminated (NRS 127A.250(4)).
• A person affected by an order may appeal in the same manner as in other civil proceedings (NRS 127A.260).

More on these rules is on the adoption basics page.

Confirmatory Adoption and Readoption at a Glance

Item	Confirmatory Adoption	Readoption
Who may petition	A person already a parent through a court order or presumptively (NRS 127A.080)	A petitioner and any spouse who adopted the child through an intercountry adoption (NRS 127E.200(1))
Connection to Nevada	Child’s birth certificate issued in Nevada (NRS 127E.100)	Petition to readopt “in this State” (NRS 127E.200(1))
Petition contents	NRS 127C.380 information plus how parentage was established (NRS 127E.110)	NRS 127C.380 information (NRS 127E.210(1))
Supporting documents	Birth certificate listing the petitioner, parentage order, or other evidence the court deems sufficient; confidential (NRS 127E.120)	Foreign adoption order or certificate, birth certificate, certified translations (NRS 127E.210(2))
After the order	Report of adoption (NRS 127E.300)	Report of adoption (NRS 127E.300)

How I Can Help

I help parents who want a Nevada court order confirming their parentage, and families who adopted abroad and want to readopt their child in Nevada. I can assemble the petition and supporting documents chapter 127E requires and handle the report of adoption afterward. Request a consultation to discuss your situation.

This page provides general information about Nevada adoption law, based on the Nevada Revised Statutes as currently revised, and is not legal advice. Court rules, regulations, federal law, and case law also affect adoptions. Every adoption is different; consult an attorney about your situation. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.