adoption or being assigned as a guardian

RA · Post by RA » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:48 pm

Here's the background. A lady moved to Finland with her child (now 13) whose father lives out of Finland (non-eu). The father has had no physical contact with the child in six years, he does call but not regularly (can go to even three months without any word), does not support child financially. The lady marries a Finn a while after moving here, they have a child together. Questions: can the new husband be assigned the guardian of his step-child, or can he adopt the child? The mother, child and he want to go down this road, but where should they turn to for information? Where would the biological father stand here? He and his former wife do not get along at all.

**Sponsor:**

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:56 pm

http://www.adoptioperheet.fi but the local sosiaalitoimisto would also be the place to go ask, thats what they are there for.

the "hairy" issue is the ex-husband and his rights (even if he is estranged he needs to OK the deal or "be informed" which can take more than the 5 years)

RA · Post by RA » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:14 pm

Thanks a lot people. I'll pass on all your very valuable info to her. Does it make a difference if they were married or not? I know I said ex-husband, but I'm not really sure they were legally married. Apparently she had his consent to bring her son to Finland. She was actually here first and then he came about a year after. I do see him giving them havoc on signing off his rights though. Does the child have a say at all? Right now he's totally refused to go back to the Dominican Republic even on holidays when the rest of the family goes. Bio father of course blames the mother for this and it has resulted in some pretty nasty scenes.

RA · Post by RA » Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:52 pm

Thanks.

CH · Post by CH » Wed Sep 19, 2007 1:20 pm

Hank W. wrote:www.adoptioperheet.fi but the local sosiaalitoimisto would also be the place to go ask, thats what they are there for.

Sosiaalitoimisto is the right place to ask, they are the ones who deal with intrafamily adoptions (well, other adoptions too, but that's a different matter). Adoptioperheet won't unfortunately be able to help, more than tell them to contact their local Sosiaalitoimisto, and I'm pretty sure that's what Pelastakaa Lapset will say, too.

CH · Post by CH » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:12 am

Cory wrote:Pelastakaa Lapset personnel know the adoption laws of [deleted] China exceptionally well.

Hooo, boy... do I have a long rant about this. (Ok, they might know the law, dunno about that... my beef is mainly with the agencies knowledge about the process).

But intrafamily adoption wouldn't go through adoption agencies, at least I don't think so.

Finland Forum

Find information about moving to, living in and life in Finland