Haitian Adoptions

A tropical island nation in the Caribbean, Haiti is due east of Cuba and shares the island of Hispanola with the Dominican Republic. In the early 17th and 18th centuries, the French colony of Haiti was one of the most prosperous in the world, due primarily to slaves laboring on the island's many agricultural plantations. Towards the end of the 18th century, Haiti's slaves (numbering almost half a million people) revolted. After an arduous struggle, they established the first independent black republic in 1804.

Plagued by political violence for most of its history, today Haiti is considered the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Of the seven million people inhabiting Haiti, over 70 percent of the adult population is unable to find employment.

Due to great political unrest and dire economic circumstances, many Haitian children have been abandoned by their parents. In 2003, Americans adopted 250 children from Haiti.

What's Involved in Adopting a Child From Haiti?

The Haitian courts issue adoption decrees and other legal documents, and the Institut du Bien Etre Social et de Research (IBESR) provides authorization to adopt. The IBESR is also responsible for accrediting adoption agents and orphanages in Haiti. Documentation from both the Haitian courts and from the IBESR is essential if you are planning to adopt a child in Haiti. Haiti's immigration authorities require Haitian passports for all Haitian children leaving the country. The wait for a Haitian passport can be as long as two or three months, depending on Haitian bureaucratic processing.

Adopting a child under Haitian law involves three steps:

1. First, the prospective parents must obtain from the Tribunal de Paix (Justice of the Peace) having jurisdiction over the residence of the child the proper release (known as the "Extrait des Minutes des Greffes") from the surviving parent(s) or from whomever has legal custody of the child.
2. Second, this legal document must be submitted to the IBESR, which will investigate, among other things, the medical and psychological well-being of the prospective parents and child. If the IBESR approves the adoption, it will issue a document known as the "Autorisation d'Adoption." Note: only the IBESR office in Port-au-Prince can authorize an adoption; IBESR regional offices do not have this authority.
3. Third, the adopting parents or their legal representative must present the authorization from the IBESR to the Tribunal Civil (Civil Court) having jurisdiction over the residence of the child, and obtain from that court a Haitian legal document known as the "Acte d'Adoption," which serves as the official adoption decree.

Note: Haiti's courts charge for judicial services, though fees are not fixed. Adopting parents should expect to pay varying court fees and expenses.

In a Nut Shell: The Low-Down on Adopting From Haiti

• Children Available: Healthy infants, children, and teenagers are available for international adoption from Haiti. Sibling groups and special needs children are also available for adoption.
• Parent Requirements: Married couples, single men, and single women may adopt from Haiti. Parents must be at least 35 years old. For married couples, one parent may be under 35 if the couple has been married at least 10 years and they have no children together.
• Travel Requirements: Travel may not be required, although parents are encouraged to travel to their child's birth country.
• Time Frame: From the time of your initial application until you bring your child home takes an average of 12 months.
• Number of Children Adopted by Americans in 2003: 250
• Additional Information: The children available for international adoption from Haiti live in orphanages.

Credits: Excerpted from "International Adoption Guidebook," by Mary Strickert