Adoptions

Who can Adopt?

Under this Act only Hindus may adopt subject to their fulfilment of certain criteria. The first of these asserts that the adopter has the legal right to (under this Act that would mean they are a Hindu). Next, they have to have the capacity to be able to provide for the adopted child. Thirdly the child must be capable of being adopted. Lastly, compliance with all other specifications (as outlined below) must be met to make the adoption valid.

Hindu boy

Men can adopt if they have the consent(s) of their wife or of all of their wives. The only way of getting around obtaining the permission of the wife or of the wives is if she or if they are unsound, if they have died, if they have completely and finally renounced the world, and if they have ceased to be a Hindu. Men who are unmarried can adopt as well as long as they are not a minor. However, if a man were to adopt a daughter, the man must be twenty one years of age or older.

Women can adopt if they have the consent of their husband. Again, the only way of getting around obtaining the permission of the husband is if he is unsound, has died, has completely and finally renounced the world, and has ceased to be a Hindu. Women who are unmarried can adopt as well as long as they are not a minor. However, if a woman were to adopt a son, the woman must be twenty one years of age or older. If the child is adopted and there are more than one wife living in the household, then the senior wife is classified as the legal mother of the adopted child.

Who can be Adopted?

The adopted child can be either male or female. The adopted child must be fall under the Hindu category. The adoptee needs also to be unmarried; however, if the particular custom or usage is applicable to the involved parties then the adoptee can be married. The child cannot be the age of sixteen or older, unless again it is custom or the usage is applicable to the involved parties. An adoption can only occur if there is not a child of the same sex of the adopted child still residing in the home. In particular, if a son were to be adopted then the adoptive father or mother must not have a legitimate or adopted son still living in the house.

Legal Implications for an Adopted Child

From the date of the adoption, the child is under the legal guardianship of the new adopted parent(s) and thus should enjoy all the benefits from those family ties. This also means that this child, therefore, is cut off from all legal benefits (property,inheritance, etc.) from the family who had given him or her up for adoption.