Adoption is the permanent placement of a child within a family. The family adopts a child legally through the court and the child as such becomes their natural offspring.

Thousands of children every year are given in adoption to couples from India and abroad. In India, adoption is a legal process governed by specific laws.

Hindus Act, 1956...

This Act is called the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956.

It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

This Act is Applicable for...

• who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms or development.

• who is a Buddhist, Jain or Sikh.

• who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew.

• any legitimate or illegitimate child whose parents are Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs.

• any legitimate or illegitimate child one of whose parents are Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs and has been so brought up.

• any abandoned child, legitimate or illegitimate of unknown parentage brought up as a Hindu, Buddhist, etc.,

• any person who is a convert to the Hindu, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh religion.
   

You Can Adopt If…

• you are a Hindu male, over twenty one years, single and of sound mind.

• If you are a married Hindu Male, only with the permission of wife.

• If you are a female Hindu of sound mind and single viz. either married, widowed or divorced.
   

You Can Adopt

• A son-if you do not have a biological son, grandson or great grandson.

• A daughter - if you do not have a biological daughter or a son's daughter.
   

Adopted Rights

• The adopted child enjoys all the rights of the biological child.

• The adopted child cannot become their own, take their name or inherit their properly by right.
   

Adoption Procedure

• The adoption procedure begins with a formal application by a couple for adoption to an adoption agency. A social worker, who studies whether the family is fit to be given a child in adoption or not. The social worker also studies criteria like the financial stability of the family, general family background, emotional health, quality of marital life among others.

• The couple is not allowed to pick and choose a child at will. This is solely the prerogative of the placement agency. The agency charges a fee of Rs.12000 at the time of custody of the child.