Child Adoption Process in General:
From an unknown Parent or for an unknown baby.
To adopt a child you need to contact a legal adoption agency and they will provide you with information about the whole adoption process. Please note, never go to any unauthorized agency or agent. There is a very clear and strict law for adoption in India, you can adopt a child only through a legal organization.
The legal agency will provide you with information about the whole general adoption process. If you agree with the terms and conditions of the agency they will give you an application form. Once you submit your application form the agency will do the following in general:
- Arrange a police check/verification for your inquiry. You will not be able to adopt if you or any member of your family have been involved in a serious offence against any child. Police basically give a character and no objection certificate.
- Medical examination: The adoption centre will ask you for a few medical tests like HIV, Hepatitis, and Cancer Tests etc.
- You have to give the names of 2 or 3 references (not relatives) who can give your personal reference.
- Once you fulfil all the formalities, the agency arranges a social worker to visit you at home for home study to make sure that you are suitable to become an adoptive parent. Social Worker will send the assessment report to the adoption agency.
- Once your agency decides you can adopt, they will start the process of finding a child for you to adopt.
- You may be given a priority no. based on previous applications and it may take from a few months to 1-2 years for your turn to come.
- Child Selection: Once you get your turn you will have the right to accept or reject the child. You will also have the right to get a medical checkup (tests) done for that child.
- Court Order: To make the adoption legal, you must apply for an Adoption Court order after selecting the child you wish to adopt. Once the order is granted the adoption becomes permanent. You get an adoption certificate and the child has the same rights as if they were your own birth child. The order also takes away parental responsibility and rights from the child’s birth parents (if any) or anyone else who has parental responsibility for the child earlier.