Citation

Annu. Rev. Popul. Law 1988; 15: 137.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Harvard Law School Library)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12289199

Abstract

This Act sets forth new rules on the adoption of minors in Chile. It provides for two kinds of adoption: simple and full adoption. A simple adoption has no effect on civil status and a child retains its rights and obligations with respect to its natural family. Persons adopting act as foster parents who take on obligations to give food, shelter, and education to the child until it reaches the age of majority or a judicial decision has declared an end to the adoption, or the child has become the subject of a full adoption. Persons who have reached the age of majority and have full civil capacity may adopt, although a married person may adopt only if his or her spouse consents. A full adoption is irrevocable; under a full adoption a child's ties to its original parents are severed and it obtains the status of a legitimate child of the persons adopting. A child may be adopted under a full adoption if it is an orphan, if its parents are unknown, if it has been abandoned, or if it is the child of one of the adopting parties. A child may be considered abandoned, even if under the care of its parents, if it has not received their personal attention for a year or if it has been left in the care of an institution. Persons adopting under a full adoption must in general be married to each other for at least four years, be over the age of 25 and under the age of 60, be at least 20 years older than the adopted child, and have cared for the child for at least a year. The Act also contains provisions on minors leaving Chile for adoption abroad.

Language: en