I desire to adopt a child, how do I go about it?

Columnist

Eric,

I long to have a child of my own, but since I am incapable, I have decided to adopt one. Unfortunately, I have no idea where to begin. Help me.

An applicant for adoption must first ascertain their own qualification and that of the child to be adopted. The parameters for both are prescribed at Section 184 of Part XIV of the Children’s Act. This includes the following: that the child has attained the age of six weeks and declared free by the National Council for Children’s Services whose broad mandate is to advise the Cabinet Secretary on matters relating to child protection and the central authority an all matters to do with adoption amongst other functions, that the person, including a parent, guardian or adoption society, shall not, prior to the making of an adoption order, entrust a child to the care, possession or control of any person not qualified to adopt a child in accordance with the Act: an applicant shall not preselect a prospective adoptive child except in the case of kinship adoption and where the applicant is a foster parent seeking to adopt a fostered child under the applicant’s care, the Secretary shall monitor and submit reports to the courts on the wellbeing of a child who is subject to adoption proceedings. Within the application, there must be written consent from a parent or guardian of the child, or any person who is liable by virtue of any order or agreement to contribute to the maintenance of the child and on the application of one of the spouses, the consent of the other spouse: similarly, from the child if such child has attained the age of 10.

I desire to adopt a child, how do I go about it?

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