Adopting a Child in Saint Lucia

Description:	An adoption is a legal process of terminating a child's legal rights and duties towards the natural parents and substituting similar rights and duties towards adoptive parents. The adoption process is governed by the Adoption Act Cap. 4.07 of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia.
Category:	Birth/Adoption
Office:	Administration
Deadline Date:	None
Processing Time:	Varies
Email:
Phone:
Fee:	EC$800.00 payable to the Tutor Ad Hoc
Hours:	8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Process:	An applicant must retain a local Attorney to commence the process. Through the local attorney, the applicant files an application in the High Court for the adoption of an infant. An infant is a person under the age of 18 years. An application consists of the following forms: (i) ORIGINATING SUMMONS ON APPLICATION FOR AN ADOPTION ORDER; (ii) STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION FOR AN ADOPTION ORDER; (iii) CONSENT TO AN ADOPTION ORDER IN RESPECT OF AN INFANT; (iv) ADOPTION ORDER IN RESPECT OF AN INFANT; (v) UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL WHEN ACTING AS TUTOR AD HOC. An application for adoption must be filed in the High Court and served on the Attorney General's Chambers. The Attorney General or his or her representative will review the application to determine whether the essential requirements captured in the adoption act have been met. Once this has been determined the Tutor Ad Hoc will file on behalf of the Infant two documents, namely an Appearance and a Consent. Thereafter Chambers in cases where the applicant resides on island will solicit the assistance of the Department of Human Services to provide a Home Study Report on the Applicant and other relevant parties. An applicant who does not reside in Saint Lucia is required to submit to a home study conducted by the relevant social services or authorised agency where that applicant lives. The Attorney General will also conduct interviews will all relevant parties and do its own investigative exercise in the matter. At the conclusion of the same, a report is produced and filed in the Court. This report informs the court on all the findings of the Tutor Ad Hoc. A hearing date for the matter is set by the Court. A High Court Judge determines whether it is in the best interest of the child, having regard to all the relevant information for the infant to be adopted.
Requirements:	An applicant must retain a local Attorney to commence the process. An application can be made solely or jointly by two spouses. An application made solely by a male for the adoption of a female will not be granted save in exceptional circumstances. An application for adop
Notes:	An adoption is a legal process of terminating a child's legal rights and duties towards the natural parents and substituting similar rights and duties towards adoptive parents. The adoption process is governed by the Adoption Act Cap. 4.07 of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia

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