Guatemala Adoption

Why Adopt from Guatemala

Adopting a child from Guatemala not only fulfills parents dreams of becoming a mother and father, but also provides a child with a future that often offers better prospects that s/he might have in Guatemala.

Dan and Kay Finley, missionaries with Lutheran Bible Translators, have assisted in Guatemala adoption procedures during their 10 years living and working in Guatemala. Despite the many financial and legal obstacles it may take to adopt from this country, Kay says:

"From the eyes of a child I would still recommend the adoption of a Guatemalan child. We have seen the poor living conditions in which many children exist, and we know how much better their life would be with a loving and caring family. So many 5-6 year old children live alone on the streets, begging for food, without anyone to care for them, and it breaks your heart. Many of them have such big, sad eyes, and you just want to pick them up, give them a hug, take them home, give them a bath, feed them, and tuck them into bed! Adoptive parents can make a big difference in the lives of the precious children from Guatemala."

The difficult economic situation the country exists in often makes it difficult for birth parents to provide adequately for their child. Adoptive parents can help provide both the love and emotional and material necessities the child needs.

Length of Time

The process to adopt a child from Guatemala typically takes between four and ten months, although the process may take longer in some cases. Although some adoptions are arranged privately, the majority of Guatemala adoptions are facilitated with the help of adoption agencies. Those interested in pursuing adoption from Guatemala need to be careful and selective in the professional or agency they choose to work with. Look for honest, up front agencies that admit the possibility of the laws regarding Guatemala could change. Research, interview, and compare before making a final decision.

Legalities

Once you have someone to facilitate the adoption process, in most cased the potential adoptive parents must sign a contract or some type of fee engagement. Even if you are pursuing a private adoption, an attorney will need to be involved, as attorneys receive and refer children for adoption. The potential adoption must be pre-approved and then sent to the Procuradoria General de la Nacion or Guatemalan Solicitor General’s Office for approval.

Potential adoptive parents need to be aware that there may be difficulties in the legalities concerning Guatemalan adoption, including relinquishing signatures from both birth mother and birth father and two visits with birth mother prior to the adoption. Kay reveals that this sometimes causes a reversion of the approved adoption:

"Prospective parents have to realize that even though they have been approved as parents and even given notice that they can pick up the child, the mother can and in some cases has changed her mind, so they must be prepared for the possibility of that heartbreak, as well... we have spoken with several couples who arrived to pick up the child, only to find that the mother had changed her mind and the child was no longer available for adoption."

Costs

Although costs vary depending on the agency or professional involved, legal and other fees, documentation, travel, and many other aspects of the Guatemala adoption process add up to substantial expenses. Prospective parents are advised that the adoption process can ultimately cost between $20,000 and $35,000.

Costs may include:

• Dossier (A set of paperwork containing details regarding the prospective parents)
• Application and Processing fees
• Legal/attorney fees
• Translation fees
• Adoption Agency fees
• Fees for travel and other paperwork
• Airline, hotel, and transportation costs
• Child's U.S. Visa health documents
• Birth mother/ newborn child health care
• DNA testing of birth mother and child (to avoid illegal trafficking in children)

Resources

Becoming an adoptive parent is a major commitment. In addition to finding the right agencies and professionals to work with, many parents can benefit from other types of adoption help, such as support groups. Following are a few adoption resources specific to international adoptions:

• US Department of State Information on International Adoption
• Adopting.com - International Support Group
• International Adoption Info. at Adoptin.org

Guatemala adoption specific resources:

• Guatemala Adoption Info. from the Alliance for Children
• State Info. on Guatemala Adoption
• Christian World Adoption -- Guatemala

• LTK would like to thank Dan and Kay Finley for sharing their experience with the adoption process in Guatemala. They work with many groups and participate in many projects that support the betterment of Guatemalan society, such as their local Children's' nutrition program. Their current work includes producing vernacular media materials to provide indigenous Guatemalans with Scripture in their own languages. For more information, please visit their website at: http://lbt.gospelcom.net/web/dkfinley.php

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