Adoption » Intercountry Adoption » Americas
Location: Ecuador
Ecuador local time:
Children
The children available for adoption in Ecuador live primarily in orphanages. Both boys and girls are available for adoption. Only children ages 24 months and older are available (no infants) are available for adoption.
Adoptive Parents
Individuals and couples, may adopt from Ecuador. Both members of a married couple should be over 25 years of age and must have been married for a minimum of 2 years. One parent may have been previously divorced. There must be an age difference of at least 14 years between the younger adoptive parent and the child. A single adoptive parent must be 30 years old in order to adopt. Adoptive parents ages 30-39 may adopt infants up to 2 years old. Parents 40-49 years-old may adopt children that are 3-5 years-old. Parents that are 50-60 years-old may adopt children over the age of 5. Adoptive parents may or may not already have children.
Approximate Waiting Period
Once the adoptive parents' documents are in Ecuador, they can anticipate waiting approximately six months to a year before the adoption is finalized.
Travel Requirements
Adoptive parents must travel to Ecuador and appear in court in order to begin the adoption process. Parents may either take one trip to Ecuador for 6 to 8 weeks or they can travel to Ecuador for one week and come home. Three weeks later they return for approximately 3 days.
Adoption Completion
The adoption is completed in Ecuador. Ecuador has signed the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.