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Who Can Be Adopted from Liberia
Source: Wikipedia.org.
Liberia has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. You cannot adopt a child in Liberia unless he or she meets the requirements outlined below.
The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy thoroughly investigates each adoption case to verify that the child's orphan status is legitimate. Since these investigations can take a considerable amount of time, prospective adoptive parents should check with the Embassy to ensure that the investigation has been completed before making travel arrangements for the child to depart Liberia.
In addition to these requirements, a child must meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law for you to bring him or her home back to the United States. Learn more about these U.S. requirements.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Relinquishment Requirements: In addition to a statement of relinquishment from the biological parents, the Liberian Government also requires an approved case summary from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MHSW). The case summary is issued after a social worker has investigated the case thoroughly and concluded that adoption is in the best interest of the child and the Minister or one of his deputies has reviewed all the legal paperwork necessary to process an adoption in Liberia.
Abandonment Requirements: If the child was born in wedlock, the consent of both parents is required. If the child was born out of wedlock, only the mother must consent. Parental consent is not required if the parents have abandoned the child, if the parental rights have been legally terminated, if the parents are deceased, or if a legal guardian has been appointed by the court.
Age Requirements: If the child is 16 years or older, the child must consent to the adoption. Please note that a child who is 16 years or older is not considered a "child" but the Immigration and Nationality Act and therefore may be ineligible to immigrate to the United States.
Other Requirements: In addition to obtaining a statement of relinquishment from the biological parent or legal guarding of the child being adopted, no adoption decree can be issued without an approved case summary from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MHSW). A case summary from the MHSW is issued only after a social worker has investigated the case thoroughly and concluded that adoption is in the best interest of the child, and the Minister has reviewed all the legal paperwork necessary to process an adoption in Liberia. This requirement has added time to the processing of adoptions, but it is in the best interest of all parties and is strongly endorsed by the Embassy.
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