Bringing a child home and completing a legal adoption are different things. The lawful route to adoption depends on the child’s circumstances, the applicable law and the prescribed procedure.
Understand the law and procedure
The Juvenile Justice framework and CARA’s arrangements are important for the adoption of orphaned, abandoned or surrendered children. A private receipt from an agent or a notarised declaration is generally not a substitute for the complete process. Eligible applicants, registration, child matching, required assessments and an order from the competent authority may be necessary. Some adoptions under applicable personal law may have different requirements. It would be incorrect to conflate these two routes and say that ‘there is one form for every adoption’ or that ‘a deed alone is sufficient’. The child’s best interests and protection from trafficking are of central importance.
In detail: What factors can affect the outcome?
Families should first identify the applicable legal route and then gather the required documents. A social media post saying that a child is available, or a promise to arrange an adoption immediately in exchange for money, calls for serious scrutiny. If any payment is made, check its legal basis and obtain an official receipt. Do not try to find a child by sharing the child’s photograph or medical details in open groups.
What should you do?
- Obtain information about the applicable procedure from CARA and the relevant child-welfare authority.
- Complete eligibility requirements, registration and necessary assessments through official channels.
- Properly obtain the required order from the competent authority and subsequent identity records.
What documents should you keep?
Keep applicant identity documents, marital and family details, required assessments and official adoption records.
Hypothetical example
A private individual outside a hospital offered a family a child for immediate adoption. Rather than rushing to prepare documents, it is important to check the procedure with the child-welfare authorities; private consent alone does not determine the child’s legal status.
Does a notarised paper determine all of a child’s legal rights?
No. The validity of an adoption is determined by the substantive and procedural requirements of the applicable law, not by notarisation alone.
Sources and related rules
Editorial review: 26 October 2026. This is general legal information. The outcome may vary depending on the facts of the case, applicable state law and subsequent amendments.