Who Can Be Adopted from Sierra Leone

The road from Kenema to Kailahun District.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Sierra Leone has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. You cannot adopt a child in Sierra Leone unless he or she meets the requirements outlined below.

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. Find out more on Who Can be Adopted and these U.S. requirements.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: None.

RELINQUISHMENT REQUIREMENTS: The High Court may require the written consent by the biological parents. If the child was born in wedlock, the consent of both parents may be required. If the child was not born in wedlock, only the mother must consent. Birth parents who have granted consent to the adoption may withdraw their consent at any point during the adoption proceedings, with the High Court's permission.

ABANDONMENT REQUIREMENTS: The High Court will not require the consent of the biological parents if those parents have legally abandoned the child, if a Sierra Leonean Governmental or judicial authority has terminated their parental rights or appointed a different legal guardian for the children, or if the parents are deceased. Birth parents who have granted consent to the adoption may withdraw their consent at any point during the adoption proceedings, with the High Court's permission.

AGE REQUIREMENTS:The child must be under 17 years old. If the child is 16 years of age or older, only the child must consent to the adoption. Note: U.S. immigration law requires an orphan be under the age of 16 at the time of the adoption in order to be eligible for an immigrant visa. A child can be 16 or 17 if adopted with younger siblings and will be eligible for an immigrant visa.

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