Adoption

De facto means that the child is in the custody of, and is being brought up, maintained and educated by any person or a married couple for a period of not less than two (2) years.

One of the the main requirements for an adoption application is the birth certificate. If the child was born in this country but is without a birth certificate, then the application for the late registration of birth must be made first.

The child to be adopted must be under the age of 18.

The age requirement for an adoptive parent is 25 and above and the age difference between the adoptive parent and adopted child is 18 years. For either of the adoptive parent with blood ties to the child’s biological parents, the age requirement for the adoptive parent is 21.

The adoption application can be made at the counter of any NRD office located near the adoptive parents’ place of residence.

Not necessary.

The natural parents need not be present if the statutory letter of consent has been submitted.

The proof is the letter of consent provided by the natural parents which is the statutory declaration made by the natural parents during the handover of the child to the adoptive parents. The 2-year period starts from the date of handover and not the date the statutory declaration was made.

No, as the 2-year custody period is stipulated in Act 253.

No. A statutory declaration between the two parties is required by law.

Yes. The condition is that one of the spouses must have attained the age of 25 and that her/she is a brother or sister, uncle or aunt whether by consanguinity or affinity to that child.

There are no restrictions under the Act.

Although Act 253 does not restrict any individual from doing so, the application to adopt by a single father is, however, NOT ENCOURAGED if the child is female. In such cases, reference will be made to the Registrar-General of Births and Deaths and the Department of Social Welfare.

Although Act 253 makes no reference to this, the Adoption Act 1952 stipulates that a Muslim child cannot be adopted by non-Muslim adoptive parents.

A non-Muslim child can be adopted by Muslim adoptive parents.

Adoption by means of a court order (Act 257) is applicable only for non-Muslim applicants. However, adoption through the Registration of Adoptions Act (Act 253) is open to all eligible persons.

An application for adoption will be referred to the Department of Social Welfare only if there is no consent from the natural parents/mother/father for the adoption of the child. However, there is no restriction on the Registrar refering the case to the Department of Social Welfare if required.

No.

Yes, provided that the child has completed the normal period of residence as required under the act and has a valid travel document before being eligible for the adoption application.

Under Act 253, both the adoptive parents and the child must have lived in this country continuously for 2 years before an application for adoption can be made.

No.

Adoptions under Act 253 will be issued only with a certificate of adoption and not a birth certificate.

The certificate of adoption has the same validity as the birth certificate and can be used for the purpose of school registration, application for identity card, application for passport and other official transactions.

A registration fee of RM30.00 will be charged on approval of the application.

The return and re-adoption of a de facto adopted child are not allowed, although adoption may be cancelled with a court order under Section 13 (2) of Act 253.

No. According to civil law, the adoption is final.

Yes. However, a child who has been adopted through a court order SHALL NOT be re-adopted through the de facto adoption process.

Adopting a child without registration is not in violation of any law of the country but registration provides protection for both the child and the adoptive parents as they will be legally recognised under the law.