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.

Others Act, 1890...

This act is Called the Guardian And Ward Act, 1890.

As non-Hindus do not have an enabling law to adopt a child legally,...

                                    This Act is Applicable for...

• As non-Hindus do not have an enabling law to adopt a child legally, those desirous of adopting a child can only take the child in 'guardianship' under the provisions Act, 1890. Personal law of Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Jews does not recognise complete adoption.

• Foreigners who seek to adopt an Indian Child, do so under this Act to assume legal Guardianship of the child, after giving an assurance to the court, that they would legally adopt the child as per the laws of their country, within two years after the arrival of the child in their country.

• This however does not provide to the child the same status as a child born biologically to the family.
   

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.