1. Pre-Adoption Counseling/ Seminar
Adoptive Parents are required to attend a seminar or fora at the DSWD to help then assess their motivation.
2. Filing an Application
Adoptive Parents files an application for adoption at the DSWD after completing the seminar or fora.
3. Declaration of the child as Abandoned (Optional)
If efforts to locate the biological parents shall fail, the child shall be registered as foundling. The child shall then be a subject to legal proceedings to declare him/her abandoned and ready for adoption.
4. Homestudy
Adoptive parents make arrangements for Homestudy to beconducted by DSWD or child-placing agency. If the adoptive parents residing abroad, the Homestudy shall only be conducted by an agency duly accredited by the Inter-country adoption board.
5. Matching
Matching of the child to the adoptive parents based on the Home Study is conducted by the DSWD.
6. Issuance of pre-adoption placement authority
DSWD issues a pre-adoption placement authority attesting that the child is ready for supervised trial custody.
7. Supervised Trial Custody
The child is placed under the custody of the adoptive parents for a period of six(6) months.
8. Consent to Adoption
DSWD issues its written consent to adoption after the supervised trial custody.
9. Filing of Petition for Adoption at the Regional Trial Court
Adoptive parents file a Petition for Adoption at the Regionalwithin 30 days after the receipt of the consent to Adopt.
10. Publication and Hearing of the Petition
Before hearing, RTC Orders the publication of the Hearing of the Petition in the newspaper of general circulation once a week for three consecutive weeks. Adoptive parents and adoptee are required to attend the hearings.
11. Issuance of the Decree of Adoption
Upon approval of the adoption, the court issues an adoption decree and enters a judgment. Time frame is 6 monthsfrom the date of submission of the Petition for Resolution.
12. Authorization to Travel Abroad
Once the adoption is already final, the DSWD shall issue a written authorization for the child to travel abroad. The birth certificate of the child is also amended to reflect the names of the adoptive parents. The Decree of Adoption becomes final after 15 days from date of the receipt of the parties. Provided that the Department of Justice did not file and Appeal.
