Who Can Be Adopted from Marshall Islands

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

Relinquishment: The Central Adoption Authority ("CAA"), a governmental office in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, oversees the adoption process. The CAA oversees the execution of an "Affidavit of Relinquishment of Parental Rights and Consent to Adoption and Emigration" by the birth parent(s). No final adoption hearing can occur until at least 30 days have elapsed since the signing of the Affidavit of Relinquishment. In most relinquishments, birth mothers do not identify the father and no male has claimed paternity of the child.

Abandonment: Under Marshallese law, "abandonment" means the failure to provide financial support for the child; or knowingly failing to provide a normal parent-child relationship with the child for a period of six or more months and deliberately failing to arrange for the provision of care and supervision of a child by another adult or adults who are willing and able to care for the child.

Age of Adoptive Child: No child 16 years of age or older may be adopted. The Court will consider the objection of a child 12 years of age or older to be controlling and the adoption will not proceed. A child under 12 years of age may object, however, the child's objection is not controlling. The Court will determine whether the adoption is in the child's best interest.

Sibling Adoptions: There are no specific eligibility requirements

Special Needs or Medical Conditions: There are no specific eligibility requirements.

Waiting Period or Foster Care: In relinquishment cases, the High Court hearing to petition for adoption may not occur before 30 days have passed since the birth parent(s) signed the Affidavit of Relinquishment.

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