Benin
May 23, 2007
The country of Benin is in western Africa. There are very few international adoptions between Benin and other countries, primarily due to a lack of agencies that work there. Intercountry adoptions are allowed, however, and may be completed independently with a lawyer and through the local court where the child resides.
Parent Requirements: Parents must be a married couple with a healthy marriage of five or more years. Singles that are at least 35 years old may also adopt from Benin. The courts of Benin prefer adoptive parents to be childless, however, a petition can be filed if the adoptive parents already have children in the home.
Time frame: Adopting from Benin can take several months, depending on various factors. Once all of the initial paperwork is complete and submitted the adoption will take a matter of months. It is possible that if the child resides in a rural setting the process will take more time.
The State Department has compiled a list of attorneys that work with families to complete adoptions in Benin. This list can be on the U.S. Embassy web site.
