It is regulated by the Minor´s Protection Code, contained in Law 136-03. The National Council for Children and Adolescents (CONANI) is in charge of coordinating the procedure for adoption. This procedure is irrevocable and grants the adopted child filiations that replace the origin one and same rights than a legitimate child.
The requirements for adopting a child in the Dominican Republic are:
- People shall be over 30 years old;
- Couple married for mores than 5 years, if the couple is non Dominican and for more than 3 years if they there Dominicans;
- Be at least 15 years older than the adopted minor;
- Live with the minor in the country at least during 30 days if the child is over 15 years or 60 days if is under this age;
- Present a declaration of loss of parental authority in the case of abandoned children; and,
- If the adoptive parents have children older than 12 years, they must present them at the Court.
The documents must be authentic and certified by the Dominican Consulate of the country of origin of the adopting parents, and here by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country. If the documents are not in Spanish, shall be translated by an official translator and certified by the Attorney General´s Office.
The adopting parents must fill their request at the Court of Minors of the domicile of the person under which care is the minor.
After the judgment is granted the adopting parents shall do:
- Published in a national newspaper;
- Notified to at least one of the adopting parent and the biological parents;
- Registered at the Civil Registrar´s Office;
- Transcribed the judgment decision at the Civil´s Office;
- Legalized at the Attorney General´s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Consulate of the country of origin of the adopting parents in order to allow the departure of the child, replacing the original birth certificate.
If the adopting are foreigners, the file must be deposited at the General Immigration Office and an interview must be held at this entity which shall grant the departure permit for the adopted child.
The adopting parents shall confirm the requirements to get the visa for the child at their embassy.
For further information
contact Helen Azouri: hazouri@fgasoc.com.do
