COLOMBIAN CHILDREN

They could be adopted by any person that meets the legal criteria established in the Colombian legislation which meet the requirement under the Hague Convention, of which Colombia is part. These children have been declared abandoned or in danger and at this time are under the supervision of the ICBF (Colombian Institute of Family Welfare) or in substitute homes approved by the ICBF.

GENERAL REQUISITES FOR ADOPTIONS

·    Must be 25 years old or older

·    Needs to be 15 years older than the child to be adopted.

·    Be morally, physically and socially fit to adopt, and be able to provide a safe and stable home to the child.

TRAVEL TO COLOMBIA

Both adoptive parents must travel to Colombia to meet the child, and must remain in the country between 8 to 10 weeks. Afterwards, one of the parents may return to the country of origin and the other must stay until the adoption process is approved and finalized, and the immigration documents are approved at the American Embassy (If citizens of the United States).

Our firm have the ability of assist you in preparing a package for your stay in any Colombian city, which may include travel arrangements, hotel or apartment rental, auto rental, guides, interpreters, nurses, etc. In Pereira, Colombia, you will have a member of our staff available to assist during the duration of your stay for a fee.

Our offices in both Colombia and United States will provide constant support and legal advice during the length of the proceedings. An attorney from our staff will assist you personally during all stages of the proceedings.

LOCATION OF PEREIRA, COLOMBIA

The City of Pereira is the Capital of the Department of Risaralda in the coffee area of Colombia in the middle of the country. There are approximately 500,000 people living in the Pereira Metropolitan Area. The Coffee Zone of which Pereira is the principal city is composed by the departments of Quindio, Risaralda and Caldas. From our office in Pereira we serve the cities of Armenia and Manizales. Our offices offer services from the City of Santiago de Cali, the capital of the Department of Valle del Cauca, one of the principal cities in Colombia.

HOW TO BEGIN THE ADOPTION PROCESS
 

·   Contact a certified adoption agency registered in Colombia.

·    Prepare and complete the applications and submit  all the required documents. A Social Study must be completed to be included with the documents to be sent to Colombia. All document must be in Spanish.

·    Please remember to complete and file all necessary applications  before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to get the approval of the Inter-Country Adoption.

·    The package with all documents and forms required by the ICBF is sent to  the ICBF Office in Bogotá, Colombia.

·    After the child is assigned the adoptive parents must travel to Colombia and stay for about 8 weeks to meet the child and complete the adoption process. During this time the parents will have contact with the child.

WHO HAS PRIORITY TO ADOPT IN COLOMBIA

·    If you have no children

·    If you have a child, either biological or adopted, and wish to have a second one

·    If you wish to adopt siblings

·    If you wish to adopt a child 7 years old or older

·    If you wish to adopt a physically or mentally challenged child.

WHO MAY ADOPT

·    Married couples (Men and Women)
- 25 to 38 years old ….may adopt children from 0 to 3 years old
- 39 to 41 years old ….may adopt children 3 years old or older
- 42 to 44 years old ….may adopt children 5 to 6 years old
- 45 to 55 years old ….may adopt children 7 years old or older

·    Single Man / Women (May adopt only a child 7 years old or older)

·    If adopting from the United States, you must a permanent resident or a citizen of the United Sates to be able to have the adoption approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. Embassy.

To adopt in Colombia, you must do it through a certified adoption agency in your country and in Colombia as well. Please verify with your country's Government to get a list of certified adoption agencies or contact our offices to get information on adoption agencies certified and registered in Colombia

****IF YOU NEED SERVICES OF A LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR YOUR ADOPTION AGENCY IN COLOMBIA,  CALL DR. MARTHA LUCIA MALDONADO-CORTES AT OUR MAIN OFFICE IN KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA AT 407-624-4034 EXT. 103 OR CONTACT HER BY E-MAIL TO corteslaw7@hotmail.com

****IF YOU ARE AN ADOPTION AGENCY AND WOULD LIKE TO INQUIRE AS TO OUR SERVICES  TO GET CERTIFIED AS AN ADOPTION AGENCY IN COLOMBIA, CONTACT ATTORNEY HERNAN CORTES RODRIGUEZ AT 407-738-4984, OR E-MAIL HIM AT corteslawgroup@hotmail.com