Belize

A Family in Bloom Adoption is approved to conduct international adoptions from Belize to the United States. Our agency has an experienced Belizean international adoption attorney who represents adoptive families’ cases with the Belize Central Authority. The Department of Human Services in the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, handles the international adoptions in Belize.

International adoptions from Belize to the US with A Family in Bloom Adoption would be appropriate for two kinds of situations:

  • Kinship adoption cases. Examples would be where both biological parents are deceased or there is one surviving biological parent who is clearly unable to care for a child. Another legitimate intrafamily adoption situation could be for a child that was a ward of the government, due to abuse or neglect, with the biological parents’ rights being terminated.
    —A tacit agreement between extended family for a better quality of life or educational opportunities, through a child’s emigration to the United States, would not be the basis for international adoption.
  • American adoptive parents that have spent significant time in Belize, may end up being supported by the Belizean government for a pre-specified child adoption from a children’s home.

Bracelets in BelizeWe do not think it likely that families would receive a child match and placement by the Belize Central Authority from a regular inquiry or a waiting list.

If your family is involved in one of these two types of adoptions in the bullet points above, please contact our agency for assistance and evaluation of appropriate intercountry adoption services. Families would also need to be able to meet the specific criteria about Who Can Adopt From Belize, described in the next section below.

Who Can Adopt

Cited from US State Department’s Intercountry webpage for Belize:

  • Minimum Residency: Belizean law prohibits the issuance of a final adoption order unless the non-Belizean prospective adoptive parent resides in Belize with the Belizean child for 12 months. A social worker will visit periodically to assess the parent-child relationship.
    Sea StarsNote: Belizean law requires that prospective adoptive parents complete a one-year probationary period of custody of the child before a final adoption decree for purposes of immigration can be issued. Prospective adoptive parents may complete this one year period in Belize, or may be authorized by the Supreme Court of Belize to complete the probationary period in their country of residence. “Provisional,” adoption decrees issued by the Supreme Court of Belize before the one year probationary period of custody is fulfilled can be considered permission for the prospective adoptive parents to take the child out of Belize during the probationary period, including for the purpose of completing the adoption in accordance with the laws of their country of residence after the one year probationary period of custody is completed.
  • Age of Adopting Parents: At least one of the prospective adoptive parents must be a minimum of 25 years old and no fewer than 12 years older than the child. There is no maximum age to adopt. However, as a best practice, a guardian may be appointed if the prospective adoptive parent(s) are elderly.
  • Marriage: Both married and single individuals can adopt in Belize. Single men cannot adopt female children. The Supreme Court of Belize may waive this restriction if it finds that special circumstances warrant it.
  • Minimum Income: None.
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About Belize

Mayan templeThe name of Belize is shrouded in the mists of past history and language. Like the multifarious background of its people, it may derive from one or many sources—from the Mayan ancestors, to alleged buccaneers, after important waterways or compass directions. The country’s history is truly an intermeshing of native peoples, the legacy from the Spanish conquistador period, and British colonialists. In the world of nationhood, Belize is relatively a newer one, having achieved independence in 1981. Prior to that, it was known as British Honduras. A close relationship has been maintained with Great Britain, with King Charles III as the titular monarch and head of state. The British Armed Forces have maintained a presence for protection against neighboring countries’ land contestation.

One cannot visit Belize without encountering its watery world. Powerful rivers course through the country, rain showers fall from the heavens- often followed by arcing rainbows, and the Caribbean sea laps with waves literally to the doorstep of Belize City. A pearl string of cays follows the country’s coastline, a short trip by ferry service from the mainland. In the laid back atmosphere of the cays, the mantra is “Go Slow”. This is the place where one can experience the maritime wonders up close, the colorful reefs, the sea creatures.

JaguarsBelize’s interior has lush forests, bedazzled with jewel-colored flowers. Mayan ruins emerge from the jungles, architectural treasures and a window to the dominant culture of the region. The country is the last stand for many endangered species. In recent years, the government and environmental organizations are attempting to protect Belize’s environmental treasures and historical sites to the establishment of national parks. One such unique protected terrain is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary & Jaguar Preserve, for the eponymous big cat.

Tourism and the accompanying service industry are an important mainstay of the Belizean economy. Agricultural exports are another major industry, focused primarily on sugar production, bananas, citrus, and more recently, papayas. Potential areas for continued growth are telecommunications and the energy sector with the country’s oil reserves.

Please contact us to learn more about our international adoption services.