1. INDIAN ADOPTION LAWS FILMA VARGHESE ALTACIT GLOBAL

2. ADOPTION Adoption is a legal process by which a child is placed with a married couple or a single female who agree to raise her as their own child and assume all responsibility for her.

4. Guardian and Wards Act of 1890 (Foreign citizens, NRIs and Indian nationals who are Muslims, Christians or Jews)

6. The person giving in adoption is lawfully capable of giving in adoption.

7. The person adopted is lawfully capable of being taken in adoption.

9. Non Resident Indian

10. A foreign citizen A single female (unmarried, widowed or divorced) or a married couple

12. The father alone if mother has completely and finally renounced the world or has ceased to be a Hindu, or has been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be of unsound mind.

13. The mother may give the child in adoption if the father is dead or has completely and finally renounced the world or has ceased to be a Hindu, or has been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be of unsound mind.

15. Must be at least 21 years old

16. No legal upper age limit for parents

17. Adoption of the older children, age of the parents may be relaxed

18. Adopted child with special needs, the age limit may be relaxed

19. If the adoption is of a son, the adoptive father or mother by whom the adoption is made must not have a son living at the time of adoption.

22. Never register with multiple agencies

23. Central & State Governments have recognized adoption agencies in most of the state

25. Assess the couple’s parenting abilities - applicant’s motivations, preparations, strengths and weaknesses on the issue of Adoption

27. Once the couple is comfortable about the details given about the child, the agency will show the child physically.

28. The couple can spend time with the child.

32. If the adoption is under Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act of 1956, then a Deed of Adoption is prepared and the same needs to be registered with the local registrar’s office.

34. The adoptive parent is only the guardian of the child until she reaches 18 years of age.

35. An adoptive parent is allowed to ask for a child, as per her preferences (age, gender, skin colour, religion, specific features and health condition)

37. Agency will appoint a professional social worker to prepare a Home Study Report.

38. Foreign national is required to submit supporting documents along with his application and declaration of willingness.

39. The application will be filed by the Indian welfare agency or a person duly authorized by them.

40. The application for guardianship must be made before the court of the District Judge within whose jurisdiction the Social and Welfare Child Agency in India that is processing the application of the foreigner is located.

41. The court will first hear all the concerned parties and examine all the documents.

42. The court must be satisfied that the foreigner will be a suitable adoptive parent for the child and will provide the child a secure and loving home.

45. CONCLUSION Adoption is the creation of a new, permanent relationship between an adoptive parent and child. Once this happens, there is no legal difference between a child who is adopted and a child who is born into a family.