REFUTING THE STEREOTYPES ON ADOPTION: IS THE PROCEDURE REALLY AS DIFFICULT AS EVERYONE SEEMS?

Unfortunately, there are many fears, stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding adoption that prevent thousands of disadvantaged orphans from finding their happiness in a loving family. Among them are problems with the child's health and genes, parents' worries about what will happen after the adoption, how the relationship with the child will develop.

 However, who said that such issues do not arise with biologically native children? Do native children not have health problems and relationships with their parents? It's just that in most cases it's easier to shift the blame for the wrong upbringing or health onto others, such as the biological parents or the children themselves. In each of my subsequent articles, I will try to debunk the main myths and stereotypes about adoption. And now I want to dwell on the simplest and most common: A long and expensive adoption procedure or "difficult to collect documents."

 Indeed, to adopt a child, you need to gather the necessary documents and go through the appropriate legal stages. However, each legal act provides for a certain paper and bureaucratic red tape. Unfortunately, the process of digitalization and the transition to online format and electronic document management in Ukraine is not as fast as we would like. However, we are gradually moving in this direction and significant changes are already visible. But the registration of adoption is no more complicated procedure from a legal point of view than any legal act. In order to build a house, you need to get a lot of permits, collect a bunch of documents and, ultimately, funds. However, people are not afraid of paperwork when buying real estate or, for example, going on vacation. They are not afraid to spend a lot of money and go through a procedure much more difficult than adoption - surrogacy." Difficult to collect documents " in adoption - not a reason, but a banal excuse, which hides the fear of taking responsibility. In addition, there are a sufficient number of professional lawyers in Ukraine who will be able to take over the legal part of the adoption.

 As for the documents, first of all it is necessary to determine whether the adoption will take place according to the national or international procedure. Here everything is simple. If the persons wishing to adopt a child are citizens of Ukraine who permanently reside on the territory of Ukraine, the adoption will take place according to the national procedure. In this case, it is necessary to register candidates for adoption and submit the following documents to the service for children at the place of residence:

a written application for registration of candidates for adoption;

a copy of a passport or other identity document;

 certificate of salary for the last six months or a copy of the income tax return for the previous calendar year,  certified by the state tax service;

a copy of the marriage certificate, if the applicants are married;

 opinion on the state of health of each applicant;

 notarized written consent of the other spouse to adopt a child (in case of adoption of a child by one of the spouses);

 certificate of presence or absence of a criminal record for each applicant;

a copy of the document confirming the right of ownership or use of housing.

 After receiving all the documents, the Children's Service checks them, conducts an interview with the applicants, draws up a survey of the applicants' living conditions and prepares an opinion on the possibility of being an adoptive parent, with which the adoptive parents apply to the court.

 If the adopters are citizens of Ukraine living outside Ukraine or foreigners, these documents are submitted to the State Department for Adoption and Protection of the Rights of the Child. In addition to the above list of documents you must submit:

 conclusion of the competent authority of the country of residence, which confirms the possibility of applicants to be adoptive parents;  permission of the competent authority of the country of residence of the applicants for entry and permanent residence of the adopted child;  obligations of the applicant:

-  register the child at the relevant consular post or diplomatic mission of Ukraine within one month after entering the country of residence;
- to ensure the right of an adopted child to retain the citizenship of Ukraine until he / she reaches 18 years of age;  
- submit a report on the living conditions and health status of the adopted child to a consular post or diplomatic mission of Ukraine at least once a year for the first three years after adoption and thereafter once every three years until the child reaches the age of eighteen; - provide an opportunity for a representative of a consular post or diplomatic mission of Ukraine to communicate with a child;

- notify the consular post or diplomatic mission of Ukraine about the change of residence of the adopted child.

 As you can see, the standard list of documents, obtaining which does not cause any difficulties. You can collect it yourself, or use the help of a lawyer. In this case, collecting documents and going through certain bureaucratic processes is worth becoming a parent and giving a happy childhood and destiny to those who dreamed of them so much.