More and more couples are increasingly seeing the need to adopt children and we cannot say this isn’t a good thing. Some people get scared however whenever they think of this because they do not know how to go about it.
All you need to know about adopting a child in Nigeria- procedures and more, we have listed below.
Documents required
It would be wise to come prepared and have these documents on hand as they may be required.
-Birth certificates
-Marriage certificates
-Divorce decrees (if applicable)
-Proof of Nigerian citizenship
-Financial documentation
-police report
-proof of citizenship of country of adopter
Additional requirements
These are the additional requirements if you want to adopt a child in Nigeria.
1. Residency Requirements
The Nigerian law on this states that, a parent –child relationship must have been established (temporary custody) before the court decision can be considered final.
2. Age Requirement
These vary from state to state, in the following states, Anambra, Akwa-ibom, Abia, Rivers, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Bayelsa state. Prospective adoptive parents must be at least aged 25 years of age and 21 years older than the child. For married couples, one of the parents must meet the age requirement.
3. Marriage Requirement
Both single and married parents can adopt, but a single person will not be allowed to adopt a child of opposite sex, except in rare circumstance. Due to child abuse and molestation. In majority of the states, married couples are required to adopt the child jointly. In the same vein, lesbians and gays couples may not be allowed to adopt in Nigeria as the law prohibits same-sex marriage.
4. Income Requirements
Nigeria does not have any stipulated income requirement for inter-country adoptions. But, in some situations, it’s the fee charged for filing to the court.
The adoption process
The following are precise steps of how go about the adoption process.
- A formal letter of request must be submitted to a competent court.
- The adopter is invited for an interview. Asking him about the reasons for his need for adoption.
- A letter of approval would be issued to the adopter to search for adoptable child in any home.
- The adopters pay the prescribed fee to the orphanage home.
- The court gives an order of release of the child. The child would stay with the adopter for three months consecutively to create familiarity and this allows the adopter to decide if he could cope with the child.
- After the three months of mutual compatibility, the court grants a final approval to the adopting party.
Article Credit: InfoguideNigera.com, Fabwoman
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