ADOPTION GUIDELINES
Domestic adoption:
It is also known as In-country Adoption
- Contact a Recognized Placement Agency or Voluntary Coordinating Agency (VCA) or Shishu Greh (SG) or Child Welfare Agency in your Area
- Get Registered with any of the Agencies. Your registration cannot be refused if you are eligible for adoption.
- The Child Welfare Agency will depute their social worker for a home visit to conduct a study (known as the home study) about the various aspects of your family to decide the suitability for placement of a child with you.
- Your Home Study Report (HSR) must be initiated within the shortest possible reasonable time after registration (maximum time 3 months).
- The agency will then identify a suitable and compatible child for you.
- The social worker will arrange for you to see the child that has been identified for you.
- The agency, thereafter, will make available particulars of the child (known as child study report) to you for your approval and acceptance.
- Before acceptance of your child, you are entitled to have a complete medical check-up done of the child. This is your right even though all agencies do medical check-ups for the children.
- The agency will assist you with all the legal formalities and put you in touch with a lawyer who will file the relevant papers in court. After consideration of the application, supporting documents and the report submitted by the scrutinizing agency, order would be issued by the court granting you permission to adopt the child.
Do’s and Don’ts
For prospective Indian adoptive parents (PAPs)
DOs
- Adopt only from a recognized / licensed adoption agency or Recognized Adoption Placement Agency.
- Obtain a copy of the receipt of your Registration with the Adoption Agency.
- Get back if you do not hear them within 10 days after Registration regarding your Home Study.
Don’ts
- Do not adopt from Nursing Homes or Hospitals directly, as it is illegal and render you liable to legal action.
- Don’t succumb to the demand for unreasonable adoption fees or “donation”. Payment of donation is not compulsory and MUST BE VOLUNTARY.
- Do not neglect or abandon the child in future
Who can adopt?
- A single parent has equal legal status to adopt a child.
- For married couples, the minimum age is 22, but their combined ages can be no more than 90 years older than the age of the child they are adopting.
- Parents under age 32 may adopt children under 18 months
- Parents over age 32 may adopt children over 18 months
- Neither parent can exceed 55 years of age.
Adoption for NRIs
Adoption procedures are different for NRIs. You may have to contact an ADOPTION AGENCY to help you with the formalities. Except for adoption by Hindus, Indian law has no provision for adoption. Children are placed under guardianship of adopting parents to exit the country, and adoption must take place in the parents' home country.
Last updated on 01-12-2005
