Guatemala << back Guatemalan Processing The adoption case in Guatemala takes approximately 4 months to complete from the time all documents have been received. The case starts off in Family Court in which a socioeconomic study is rendered by a social worker. This study is the basis of the whole case. The social worker interviews the birth mother and the birth mother testifies about why she is giving up the child for adoption. The social worker must submit this documentation to the INS at the U.S. Embassy. Upon approval of the documentation, the Embassy will schedule a DNA test to be conducted on the birth mother and the child in order to confirm that she is truly the child's birth mother. This test is processed by a licensed laboratory in the United States. Following a positive result, the INS will approve the orphan status of the child. Upon approval of the case, the attorney submits the case to the Procuraduria General de la Nacion (the Justice) for review. If the Procuraduria approves the case, the attorney then draws up the final notarial decree of adoption. Once the notarial decree is completed, the adoptive parent(s) are the legal parent(s) of the child under Guatemalan law. After the notarial decree is rendered, the attorney petitions the Civil Register to change the last name of the child on the birth certificate to that of the adoptive parents, and then a new birth certificate is issued. Following this, the attorney obtains a Guatemalan passport in the child's new name. Finalization Week Adoptive parent(s) may travel to Guatemala to take custody of the adoptive child and go through final INS and U.S. Embassy procedures, or the child may be escorted to the United States. In Guatemala, the adoptive parent(s) are provided with a copy of the notarial decree of adoption, adoption consent form from the birth mother, a copy of the Consent from the U.S. Embassy, the new birth certificate and the child's passport. They will also receive information from the child's medical chart. It takes a minimum of 36 hours to complete this final stage. During this time, parents have the option to stay at a resort hotel that is located near the children's home. The hotel has efficiency apartments, a spa, pool, playground, tennis courts, and a full buffet breakfast included with the room fee. Children in Guatemala LAST UPDATED: 10.26.2000 All Rights Reserved! ©2000