Can I adopt a baby even if I'm single?

Question

I have been wanting to adopt a kid but I'm single. Any advise how to do that? I'm in the Philippines.

Answer 1

Laws differ from country to country, but you should be able to, especially if you're willing to adopt an older child or a child with special needs.  There are a lot of Asian girls who need homes also.  Start by contacting an agency that handles adoptions, like Catholic Charities or a Children's Organization (check your local phone book or other resources). They can help you locate the correct regulations so you can begin preparing.

Answer 2

I am a single woman of five adopted children. I worked while I was raising my children. They are all grown and productive members of society and I have 4 grandchildren. Unfortunately my youngest child died at 20 years of age in an accident.

My children are all very close to me and each other. Adopting was the best thing I ever decided to do. Good luck.

ellie

Answer 3

I know a single person can adopt in the US but I have no idea about in the Philippines. sorry I can't help.

Answer 4

In the USA you could, as long as you pass a homestudy.  Is there a Department of Social Services where you are?  I'd check with them.  Best wishes!

--------------------------------------...

OMG, Gaia, here you go again.  If you adopt a child, how do you know for sure that you and your "significant other" will stay married- or are you even married now?  How about if God forbid one of you gets seriously ill or passes away?  Then what?  Should you then in turn around and find a two-parent home for your child because you'd be single?  Your ignorance makes me ill.

Answer 5

Yes!  That would be wonderful for you and the child.  (I agree with Googlyeyes.)

Answer 6

Unless you're independently wealthy, I wouldn't recommend it.  Adopted kids need lots of love and attention, and if you aren't there to provide it, you're not doing your job as an adoptive parent.  It sucks to be abandoned, and it would suck even more to be abandoned daily so that you can go to work.

Answer 7

Any foreign national or a Filipino citizen permanently residing abroad may file an adoption application if he/she::

Is at least twenty-seven (27) years of age and is at least sixteen (16) years older than the child to be adopted at the time of the application, unless the applicant is the parent by nature of the child to be adopted or is the spouse of such parent by nature. A maximum of forty-five (45) years age gap between the adoptive child should be maintained except in cases where the circumstances will be favorable to the child;

Has the capacity to act and assume all the rights and responsibilities incidental to parental authority under his/her national law;

Has been married for three (3) years;

Has undergone appropriate counseling from an accredited counselor in his/her country;

Has not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;

Is eligible to adopt under his/her national law;

Can provide the proper care and support and give the necessary moral values and example to the child and, in the proper case, to all his/her other children;

Comes from a country with whom the Philippines has diplomatic relations, maintains foreign adoption agencies, and whose laws allows adoption; and

Files jointly with his/her spouse, if any, who shall have the same qualifications and none of the disqualifications to adopt as prescribed above.

Where to Apply?

The application shall be filed and officially endorsed to the INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION BOARD (ICAB) through the Receiving Country’s Central Authority on Intercountry Adoption or an ICAB accredited Foreign Adoption Agency in the place of residence of the applicant couple.

Fees and Other Charges

The applicants are to bear the following costs incidental to the placement of the child (effective February 2007)

Adoption Application Fee--$200.00 (non-refundable upon endorsement of the Adoption Application and Supporting Documents)

Processing Fee--US$2,000.00 -- for all categories (regular, relative, special needs children)

Pre-travel Expenses-- The cost of the passport, visa, medical examination, psychological evaluation, travel expenses of the child within the Philippines and for abroad ( the cost varies on a country to country basis)

US$1,000 Child Care Support Fund for the Child Caring Agencies

Processing Time

Adoption applicants that have substantive Home Study Report (HSR) and complete supporting documents are reviewed and approved within one month from receipt of the adoption applicant/s' dossier. On the other hand, adoption application with lacking information and/or documents are reviewed and processed depending upon the submission/completion by the Central Authority/Foreign Adoption Agency (CA/FAA) of the requested information and/or documents with the corresponding delay in its approval.

The matching or child referral or allocation largely depends on the stated child preference (i.e. child's age, gender and state of health or extent of known background) of the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs). This usually takes nine (9) months to one (1) year after the PAPs' approval. Willingness to accept a special needs child generally shortens the waiting period for child allocation.

Children Available for Inter-Country Adoption

Children available for intercountry adoption placement are those who cannot be placed with an adoptive family in the Philippines.

(For relative adoption – only up to the 4th degree of consanguinity)

All children have to be cleared for intercountry adoption by the Competent Authority - Programs and Projects Bureau of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (PPB DSWD)-Central Office.

Children of either s*x are usually available but there may be longer waiting period for girls because of the Filipino culture whereby families hold on to their daughters since they are generally more submissive, less difficult to parent and can be relied upon to care for their family of origin even until parental senescence occurs.

The allowable age of Filipino children for Intercountry Adoption (ICA) is below 15 years old. A child who is above 15 years old may be processed for ICA when the following circumstances prevail:

When the child is a part of a sibling group where one or more is below 15 years old;

If the application for adoption of a child was filed (in cases of relative adoption) before the child reached the age of 15;

Special Home Finding was initiated before the child’s 15th birthday; and

Other situations where the intent to adopt was manifested before the child reached 15.

The general ages of children cleared for intercountry adoption usually range from 6 months to 10 years old.

Special Needs or Hard to Place children include

older children (usually boys or girls age 6 to 15 years old)

Sibling groups of 3 or more

Children with major medical/physical problems

Children with major developmental/neurological delay/handicap

Process

Any adoption applicant interested in adopting a Filipino child/ren (either relative or non-relative) may contact the nearest Central Authority on Intercountry Adoption of their country (if Ratifier or State Party to The Hague Convention) or any ICAB accredited Foreign Adoption Agency who is responsible in these Prospective Adoptive Parents preparation and conduct of their Home Study Report.

Documentary Requirements:

Home Study Report

Undertaking of the Couple made under oath (refer to Application Form)

Information and Personal Data Application (refer to Application Form)

Birth Certificate of the Couple (if adopting a relative: Birth Certificate of their common ancestry delineating relationship up to the 4th degree of consanguinity)

Marriage Contract

Divorce Decree (if applicable)

Physical and Medical Evaluation Report

Psychological Evaluation by a duly licensed psychiatrist or psychologist.

Written Consent to Adoption by the biological and/or adopted children who are 10 years of age or over witnessed by the social worker after proper counseling, in the form of a sworn statement.

Character Reference from (a) Local Church Minister or Priest; (b)Employer; (c) Members of the immediate community (who have all known the applicants for at least 5 years).

Latest Income Tax Return or any other documents showing the financial capability of the applicant.

Clearance issued by the police or the proper government agency of the place where the applicant resides.

Certification from the Justice Department or other appropriate government agency of the applicant’s country that the applicant is qualified to adopt under their national law and that the child to be adopted is allowed to enter the country for trial custody and to reside there permanently once adopted.

Recent post card size pictures of the applicant, his immediate family and their home/community

Special Needs Checklist (refer to Application Form)

For more questions on Inter-Country Adoption, check out http://www.icab.gov.ph.

Answer 8

Sure, why not.  In many cases its better for the child because they will know they weren't adopted to keep a couple together and they will get all the attention they'll need to deal with the trauma of being adopted.