Factsheet, Page 3

ADOPTION FEES IN ECUADOR :The cost of adoptions varies with different agencies. Parents should contact the adoption agency for an estimated cost.

ADOPTION PROCEDURES:The adoption agency in Ecuador will help the parents complete the following steps:

Before finalizing the adoption, the parents are required to come to Ecuador for an adaptation period. The time that they have to spend with the child depends on each Orphanage‘s policy and program, but it usually takes about three or four days. After this, based on the prospective parents’ relationship with the child, the Orphanage will send a report to the Technical Adoption Unit. This office will send the report along with other adoption documents to the "Juzgado de la Niñez" for the judge to approve the request to adopt. The judge will then schedule an appointment (usually one or two days later) with the parents for them to acknowledge their signatures. The parents must go personally to that appointment and bring their passports.

The adoption hearing will take place three or four days later. In that hearing, the judge will ask the parents questions about their family, including psychological and financial situations. The questions might be regarding occupation, earnings, if they have other children, motivation for the current adoption, and other family members’ opinions about the adoption. After the hearing the parents and the judge sign the minutes, and 2 or 3 days later the judge will issue the final adoption decree.

After the adoption decree is issued, 3 days must pass before it becomes final. Once finalized, the parents can go to the Civil Registry Office to obtain a new birth certificate. With the new birth certificate, the parents (or the agency on their behalf) can obtain an Ecuadorian identity card and passport for the child.

In short, both adopting parents must travel to Ecuador to finalize the adoption process and remain through the hearing process that can take up to three weeks. After the hearing process, only one parent must be present for the finalization of the adoption. This will usually take an additional week.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION IN ECUADOR<:All translations, certifications, notarizations and Apostilles (authentications) must be completed in the U.S. before the adoptive parents travel to Ecuador and before the application for adoption is made. Translations can be done in Ecuador. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General in Ecuador do not have the authority to authenticate documents originating in the U.S.The following documents must be presented by the prospective adoptive parent(s) before the Minors Court in the domicile of the child after the adoption procedures listed above have been completed. At this time, the prospective adoptive parent(s) must acknowledge their signatures.Married couples must present the adoption application jointly.

NOTE: A Certificate as to the authenticity of all of the below listed documents is required. Documents must be authenticated at the nearest Ecuadorian Consulate in the United States.

Certified copies of birth certificates of prospective adoptive parents;

Certified copy of marriage certificate (and death certificates/divorce decrees related to prior spouses if applicable);

Certified copy of the state law that regulates the adoption of minors (especially foreign minors) in the adoptive parents' state;

Home study report on the adoptive parent(s) and institutional criteria on the suitability of the adoptive parent(s) from the entity performing the home study;

A certificate of no criminal record for each adoptive parent from a local police department that has been sealed. An FBI report is acceptable in lieu of local police record;

Verification of employment and salary;

Notarized adoption authorization letter from the adoption agency to the family certifying that the family is duly prepared to adopt an Ecuadorian child;