[gwn]

Has anyone ever gone to Guatemala and visited different orphanages to 'find their child' to adopt? We have considered doing that, and don't know where to begin. We would like to find a child under a year of age. Does anyone have any suggestions on specific orphanages or contact persons??

thanks,
Darla

[Devora]

Darla,

It's not really likely that you would find a child that young who is in an orphanage and is already available for adoption. If the child has been abandoned, an abandonment decree must be issued -- this is a long process (some cases take more than a year) because the goal of the abandonment process is to make 100% sure that there is no family member who is able to care for the child.

Most children adopted from Guatemala are in the age range you're looking for. But they are adopted through relinquishment, which is essentially a private adoption. This is when the sole parent chooses to make an adoption plan for their child. In these cases the child is relinquished to the care of an attorney who becomes the child's guardian. Most children who are in the care of an attorney live in foster homes.

There are children in orphanages (hogars) who are under a year and available for adoption. However, most hogars who do international adoptions have a relationship already with an attorney.

This is not to say that there aren't people who have done what you're thinking of doing -- I'm sure they will chime in!!! But most people accept a referral from an agency (or sometimes directly from an attorney) and choose whether or not to accept the referral of the child.

To see descriptions of the adoption process, I would suggest going to guatadopt.com and look for their description of the Guatemalan Notarial Process and also go to guatefam.org and look at their description of the process. These should give you a good overview of how Guatemalan adoptions work -- both abandonment and relinquishment cases.

Best wishes,
Devora

[ruesugar]

Yes,

You could go to orphanages and see available children. Two of our four were in orphanages and although we did not go this route, there were available children at the time of our pick up that were waiting for families. If you were willing to make an extra trip and work with an attorney or facilitator who was open to your choosing I think it could be done. We have our hands full now, but in the future I would really consider doing this for a special needs child.

[tippytalk]

I pm'd you

[Lori1000488]

Hi,

I am in the process of adopting 2 children from an orphanage in Antigua, Guatemala. We visited about a month ago and we were very impressed with the staff, facility and care the children received at Semillas de Amor. You might want to contact Project Oz Adoptions who is facilitating my adoption. There were many beautiful babies and older chidlren who would be available for adoption.

Lori