PENDING STATE DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS MAY INTERRUPT CONTINUED ADOPTIONS FROM GUATEMALA BY U.S. CITIZENS (update 4/07)

Children available for adoption in Guatemala
Most of the children available for adoption in Guatemala are infants, although there are some older children and children with known medical needs. Adoption referrals are typically made within days or weeks of birth. However, placement is delayed by several months while the legal adoption process in Guatemala is finalized.

Infants being placed for adoption in Guatemala go directly from their birthmother's custody to foster families or small group homes, where they are cared for until the court process is completed and adoptive parents can travel to pick them up. They receive well-baby checkups and vaccinations. Children are typically 6 months and older when they are eligible to go travel home to the United States with their adoptive parents. Parents may request a specific gender, although those parents requesting an infant girl should expect to wait longer.

Parent Requirements
Adoptions are not centralized through the government in Guatemala. Most of the adoptive parent requirements come from adoption facilitators. As such, adoptive parent requirements are quite liberal. Parents can be married or single and should be between the ages of 25-50, although some flexibility is allowed in unique circumstances. There is no restriction on the number of children already present in the family. The primary requirement is that parents be in good health. There is no length of marriage requirement. Guatemala will not allow the adoption of a child by a gay or lesbian person.

The Process
Birthmothers are an important part of the legal adoption process in Guatemala. DNA testing is required, as well as a report from a social worker decreeing the birthmother's consent to place her child for adoption. In certain cases, adoptive parents may be able to meet the birthmother or foster parents. Some Cradle families maintain an open relationship with the birth mothers or foster parents. All adoptions are finalized in Guatemala, but also need to be finalized in the Illinois courts to satisfy US federal requirements.

Travel and Costs
The Cradle strongly recommends that parents travel to Guatemala to pick up their child. During this trip, adoptive parents are sometimes able to meet their child's birth family and/or visit the child's foster family. At the very least, they are able to visit and learn more about the country of their child's birth. Parents should expect to stay in Guatemala for at least 3 days.

Quick Reference Guide

All fees subject to change without notice.