Guatemala Adoption

Guatemala is one of the most well-known countries in the world that consider adoption as one of the most remarkable processes available. It considers adoption legal mainly for the reason that the number of children being orphaned, abandoned or separated from their parents have dramatically been growing due to high fertility rates, endemic poverty and the shame of single parenthood. Heartbreaking as it may seem, hundreds of birthmothers in Guatemala today contact an adoption agency or attorney and place their child available for adoption only days after birth. That’s so sad, but that is also the reason that makes US citizens happy as children in Guatemala are available for adoption at very young ages.

Guatemala Adoption Qualifications

Just like in the other countries, the Guatemala adoption program has set its own qualifications for adoptive parents to meet. Under the Guatemala adoption law, married couples, single females and males who have reached the age of 25 may adopt a child from Guatemala. Note also that there is no upper age limit set, but is specifically maintained by the Guatemala adoption law that those adoptive parents who have reached the age of 50 or above must show off flexibility in the age of the child they wish to adopt.

Children Available for Adoption

In Guatemala, infants are made available for adoption. They are healthy infants as they are raised and well-cared for by the foster mothers during the wait for adoption. According to some reports, about 65% of the children adopted from the country were under one year old, and this is perhaps what attracts more couples and families to adopt a child from Guatemala. In addition, there is no gender limits set for the availability of Guatemalan children as boys and girls are available for adoption.

The Requirements

Although there is no strict age limit and gender availability in Guatemala adoption, certain requirements for parents and couples are out there to meet. Perhaps one of the strictest requirements set is the need for DNA testing. The DNA test is highly considered to confirm that the woman surrendering the child for adoption is truly the birthmother of that child. Once the DNA testing is performed, the attorney who is working within the Guatemalan courts should prepare the so-called “final adoption packet” and obtains a Guatemalan passport for the child, including a medical report. And, once these documents are completed, the adoptive parents have two options to consider, whether yo travel to Guatemala to bring the child home or have the child escorted to you in your country of origin. Most of those who travel to Guatemala with the adopted child usually spend an average of two weeks, although there is no travel requirement set.

Adoption Time Frame

In Guatemala adoption, the time referral typically happens about three to six months after the profile is received. The adoption process is then completed at an average of eight months after the child’s referral was accepted.