How long does it take adopt a child in South Africa?

Not being able to have children is a whip-lashing, emotional experience for many couples. Luckily, child adoption makes matters easier but there are formalities that must be adhered to. The adoption process in South Africa can be a tough, complex procedure. During our years of experiences in dealing with child adoption, we have found that many couples undermine this time consuming process.

However, the adoption process can unfold over a period of months, depending on the nature and circumstances of the matter. Often, further complications may arise during the process and sometimes important choices must be made.

Our law offices have dealt with unique child adoption cases in which we have compiled a range of online articles with free expert legal advice for your convenience.

For more information, call our law offices and have our friendly receptionist make an online appointment for you today.

Baby adoption process

We often don’t know where to start when it comes to child adoption. These are brief, yet relevant steps you could be looking at when entering into the adoption process:

1. Establish a mutual ground between you and your spouse: this means making sure that both parties are actively involved in the adoption process and that both parties would like to process with the process.
2. Social worker or adoption agency: A social worker mandatory to the process even though you may personally know the biological mother of the child. When it comes to a social worker and agency, you need to ensure that you can trust both the agency and social worker. These two factors will play an essential role in the outcome of the adoption process.
3. Screening process: this can be the most dreadful step.

You will need:

• Interview with your social worker
• Police clearance
• Medical report
• Psychological assessment
• Summary of finances
• Clearance from National Child Protection Register
• Clearance from the National Register of Sexual Offenders
• Assessing of your marriage
• References
• Group sessions
• Social worker will have to visit your home to check for a stable, safe home for the child
• An overall family assessment

4. Wait for your child while the social worker determines an ideal candidate that suits the circumstances of the matter.
5. You will get to meet your child and you will have an idea of your child’s history and have a choice if you would like to proceed.
6. Complete the legal work: this is where a good, family legal expert comes in to help you through the process of the Children’s Court and other legalities.

Adopting a child from another country

For more information on child adoption simply click on the following links:

• Adopting a child and the Law
• Child adoptions- domestic and intern-country
• Relocate with the minor child- parent refusing passport
• The law regarding Children’s Act

Are you residing out of Cape Town? No problem. Make use of our national number on 087 701 1124 or simply call our offices on 021 424 3487 for an online appointment for a professional legal consultation.