This is the checklist we provide to clients for adoption:

For Adoptee Minor :

1.Birth Certificate/Live Birth of minor
* can be secured by the Law Office via NSO
2.Baptismal Certificate (optional)
3.Medical Certificate/ Health Certificate of the child/or minor subject for adoption stating she/he is physically fit for
adoption
4.Affidavit of Consent of Biological Parents –
5.Affidavit of Consent of the adoptee if aged 10 years or over.
6.Affidavit of Consent of siblings of adoptee if aged 10 years or over.
7.Affidavit of consent of children of adopters if aged 10 years or over.
8.Whole body Picture of adoptee
9.Income Tax of Biological Parents -
10.Pictures- 2x2—three (3) copies each for biological parents, the adoptee and siblings
11.Marriage Certificate of the biological parents –

For Petitioner:
1.Medical Certificate/ Health Certificate from the physician
( Petitioner/ Physical fit to adopt)
2.Clearances: Police, Prosecutors/Fiscal Office, MTCC and criminal Division of RTC for local Adoption
3.For Foreigner/s Petitioner/s: Police Clearance or FBI
4.Marriage Contract/ Certificate of Marriage
Please bring the original copy
5.Affidavit of Consent to adopt
6.Income Tax Return or Certificate of Employment
7.Letter/s of References station good moral character( two person with good standing in the community)
8.Picture - 2x2—three (3) copies of Spouses who will adopt
9.Copy of savings, insurances & other properties.
10.Home Study Report conducted from the Place of Residence – care of court appointed social worker

omestic Adoption (Step-by-step procedure) RA8552

Pre-Adoption Counseling/ Seminar

Adoptive Parents are required to attend a seminar or fora at the DSWD to help then assess their motivation.

Filing an Application
Adoptive Parents files an application for adoption at the DSWD after completing the seminar or fora.

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.

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.
 Matching
Matching of the child to the adoptive parents based on the Home Study is conducted by the DSWD.

Issuance of pre-adoption placement authority

DSWD issues a pre-adoption placement authority attesting that the child is ready for supervised trial custody.

Supervised Trial Custody

The child is placed under the custody of the adoptive parents for a period of six(6) months.

Consent to Adoption
DSWD issues its written consent to adoption after the supervised trial custody.

Filing of Petition for Adoption at the Regional Trial Court

Adoptive parents file a Petition for Adoption at the Regional within 30 days after the receipt of the consent to Adopt.

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 arerequired to attend the hearings.

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
months from the date of submission of the Petition for Resolution.

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.