Adoption

Who can adopt in Saskatchewan?
What adoption programs does the Department of Community Resources and Employment (DCRE) offer?
What does open adoption mean?
What are the benefits of open adoption?
How does the adoption process begin?
What is the homestudy report?
How long does it take to adopt a child?
When does an adoption become legal?
How much does a domestic adoption cost
What about other adoption options?
Does Saskatchewan have adoption reunion services?
What do post adoption services include and who may obtain them?
Is there a fee for post adoption services?
How do you start a search for an adoptee or a birth parent?
What if you don't want contact with a birth parent or an adoptee, but would like to know if they are looking for you?
Can an adopted person or the birth parent of an adopted person obtain the adoptee's original birth registration?
Can an adopted person receive a copy of the adoption order?
Can a birth parent receive a copy of documents they signed prior to placing their child for adoption?
What if an adopted person or a birth parent does not want a certified copy of the original birth registration of the adopted adult released?
What if a birth parent or an adopted adult does not want any identifying information released?

Who can adopt in Saskatchewan?

You must be a Saskatchewan resident, unless the court has waived residency requirements. Married adults jointly; an unmarried adult; or any other person or persons that the court may allow, having regard to the best interests of the child, may make application to the court for an order of adoption.

What adoption programs does the Department of Saskatchewan Community Resources and Employment (DCRE) Offer?

Domestic Adoption

Domestic adoption refers to the adoption of a child who is permanently in the care of the Minister of Community Resources and Employment. Birth parents may complete a voluntary committal shortly after the birth of their child or children may be apprehended and made permanent wards by the court. These children may be infants, or older children and include those who may have special needs including physical health issues or intellectual impairment. Children who are permanently committed to the care of the Minister of Community Resources and Employment may be adopted if they are legally free for adoption and adoption is considered the best lifeplan for them. These children are matched with potential adoptive parents who have had a homestudy report completed. Processing the adoption through court is done by DCRE.

Assisted Adoption

The Assisted Adoption Program may provide assistance to adoptive families who are interested in the challenge of parenting children who have special needs and are in the care of the Minister of Community Resources and Employment prior to adoption. This program is discussed with families pursuing adoption of children with special needs.

Intercountry Adoption

Residents of Saskatchewan who wish to adopt a child from another country must make an application to DCRE and meet the requirements for intercountry adoption. A guide for those who wish to adopt a child from another country is available on this website.

What does open adoption mean?

In the past, people thought it was best that adoption be kept secret. Although it is still a private matter today, the majority of birth parents who make an adoption decision for their infant request adoptive parents who are prepared to provide some ongoing communication or contact. Birth parents and adoptive parents decide on the amount and type of communication and/or contact they will have. Each adoption is negotiated to meet the needs of birth parents, adoptive parents, and the child and may include:

• birth and adoptive parents deciding to meet but not giving identifying information about themselves;
• birth and adoptive parents meeting and exchanging identifying information;
• birth parents requesting adoptive parents be present at the birth of the baby; and
• birth parents and adoptive parents exchanging letters, and sometimes pictures, either through DCRE or directly.

Birth parents involved in planning adoption for their child want to be reassured the adoption plan they make is the best one possible. Increasingly, adoptive parents are appreciating the many benefits to the child when birth parents have an active role in choosing adoptive parents and there is the opportunity to develop a relationship and have some form of ongoing contact.

Open adoption is about maintaining some communication between the child and the birth and adoptive parents. It is a way for the birth parents to tell their child that they are loved and will always be loved by their birth parents, as well as their adoptive parents. Open adoption can also help assure birth parents they made a good decision in planning adoption for their child. Birth parents report it is helpful in resolving the feelings of grief and loss they experience. Receiving communication by letter, or in person, from the birth parent, can be reassuring to the adoptive parents. Many adoptive parents report that such contact puts them in a more confident position to answer a child’s questions about their family of origin.

Successful open adoption depends on matching adoptive parents and birth parents who are committed to the agreement they mutually negotiate.

How does the adoption process begin?

If you are interested in adopting a child and are a Saskatchewan resident the first thing to do is contact your local DCRE office. An adoption caseworker will arrange an appointment to discuss your situation with you and help you determine which adoption programs you may wish to apply for. Once you have completed an application form, it will be registered on a provincial waiting list. Time on the waiting list varies depending on a number of factors including the number of children for whom adoption is sought and the number of approved adoptive parents waiting.

What is the homestudy report?

The homestudy report is a consolidation of information and insight from various sources on the ability of the applicants to parent an adopted child. The homestudy process involves a series of interviews between yourself and your adoption worker. The homestudy process gives you an opportunity to prepare for adoption and gives your worker a chance to get to know you. A homestudy usually takes three to six months and includes references, a physician’s medical report and a criminal record check. To ensure homestudy reports reflect current information an update is required every two years.

After the homestudy has been completed, it is registered at the Central Adoption Registry. When birth parents make an adoption plan, their request includes the criteria they want in an adoptive family. Their request is registered centrally and then matched to the range of acceptance of several prospective adoptive parents. Birth parents are given the opportunity to consider several adoption homestudies that may meet the expectations they have for prospective adoptive parents of their child.

How long does it take to adopt a child?

This is a difficult question to answer, because each adoption application is different. Factors which affect the waiting period include:

• how open a relationship you are willing to have with birth parents;
• the age of child and specific factors in the child's health, social background and current circumstances you are able to accept;
• the number of children for whom adoption is being planned at any given time.

When does an adoption become legal?

When the adoption order is signed by the judge, you become the child's legal parent. Typically, it takes no more than one year, from the time the child joins your family, for an adoption to become final. Generally, an infant adoption is finalized three to six months after the infant is placed in your home. When the adoption placement involves an older child there is a longer adjustment period. Once the child and the adoptive parents have had an opportunity to get to know one another, and feel comfortable with one another, an application is made to court for the final adoption order.

How much does a domestic adoption cost?

DCRE does not charge any registration or homestudy fees for a domestic adoption. There may be costs for certain documents, medical reports, criminal record checks as well as travel or accommodation if required.

What about other adoption options?

Independent Adoption

Birth parents may make arrangements with someone they know, to adopt their child. A homestudy is conducted by an independent practitioner, approved by DCRE. An independent adoption is usually processed through the court with the help of a lawyer.

Step-parent Adoption

An individual may, with the consent of his or her spouse, apply to the court to adopt a child of that spouse if the child is either living with them or being cared for by them. Step-parent adoptions are processed with the help of a lawyer.

Adult Adoption

A person who is 18 years of age or older, may be adopted if he/she consents and the court considers the reason for the adoption acceptable. Adult adoptions are processed with the help of a lawyer.

Does Saskatchewan have adoption reunion services?

Yes. DCRE is required, by law, to maintain records of all adoptions finalized in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Post Adoption Registry was established in 1982. Since then it has handled hundreds of requests for information, or contact, from those involved in the adoption process. The Post Adoption Registry is located at 1920 Broad Street, Regina, SK, S4P 3V6; telephone: (306)787-3654 or 1-800-667-7539 (toll free in Canada).

What do post adoption services include and who may obtain them?

In Saskatchewan post adoption services provide for the disclosure of information following legal adoptions that were finalized in Saskatchewan. Services include: release of non-identifying background information; copies of legal documents; search and reunion services; and a passive registry. DCRE will provide information and search services upon request for: adults who were adopted as children; birth parents, including birth fathers in some circumstances; birth family members; and adoptive parents of minor adoptees. Adoptions must have been finalized in Saskatchewan.

For more information contact:

Is there a fee for post adoption services?

There is a fee for documents, registration, search and contact services, but not for non-identifying, background information. The fees are as follows:

• Non-identifying background information -- No Fee
• Certified copy of document -- $15.00
• Certified copy of original birth certificate -- $25.00
• Registration for contact -- $35.00
• Search and contact -- $265.00
• In all situations, if the party being sought has informed the Post Adoption Program of his/her current address and interest in contact, the request will be considered mutual.
• Contact by mutual request -- $90.00
• Search and contact with second and subsequent family member(s) -- $175.00
• Search for a person to determine their consent to release a certified copy of original birth registration -- $175.00

NOTE: A special fee schedule is available for persons eligible for benefits under the Saskatchewan Assistance Plan; or legislation under which financial supports are provided in any other province or by the Government of Canada through the Employment Insurance Act; or for persons attending a formal educational program full-time. Also, The Adoption Regulations provide for Ministerial discretion to waive fees: for example, in cases of serious medical circumstances.

If you are unable to pay the required fee, you may ask to be income tested to see if you qualify for the reduced rates. A cheque or money order is made payable to the Minister of Finance.

How do you start a search for an adoptee or a birth parent?

Birth parents, adoptive parents, and adults who were adopted as a child, may request search and contact services. DCRE will initiate a search for an adoptee, or a birth parent, upon receiving a written request from either party. Each request is placed on a waiting list. Through discrete enquiries, staff determine if the other party would agree to being contacted. Identifying information is released only with consent of both parties.

What if you don't want contact with a birth parent or an adoptee, but would like to know if they are looking for you?

You may register, in writing, your willingness to exchange information or to have contact. A reunion may occur only if both parties register. No search is conducted - contact is by mutual request. Requests for contact with birth family members require consent of the birth parent.

Can an adopted person or the birth parent of an adopted person obtain the adoptee's original birth registration?

Yes. An adopted person, or a birth parent may request a certified copy of an adopted adult's original birth registration. The birth registration contains identifying information. If adoption placement occurred prior to April 1, 1997 the written consent of the birth parent and the adopted adult are required. A search may be required to obtain a consent of one of the parties. If adoption placement occurred after April 1, 1997 a certified copy of the adopted adult's original birth registration may be released to the birth parent or the adopted adult without the consent of any other party, unless either party has registered a veto forbidding the release of the document.

Can an adopted person receive a copy of the adoption order?

Yes.

Can a birth parent receive a copy of documents they signed prior to placing their child for adoption?

Birth  parents can obtain copies of the consent documents they signed when their child was placed for adoption.

What if an adopted person or a birth parent does not want a certified copy of the original birth registration of the adopted adult released?

An adopted person (as soon as possible after reaching 18 years of age) or a birth parent may register a veto, in writing, indicating that they forbid the release of the certified copy of the adopted adult's original birth registration.

What if a birth parent or an adopted adult does not want any identifying information released?

Either party can send a written statement to the post adoption registry forbidding the release of any identifying information. No identifying information will be released unless the post adoption registry receives written permission.

Adoption Links

Adoption Council of Canada

Saskatchewan Adoption Support Centre