adoptointipäätös

Adoptointipäätös, or adoption decision, is a legal process in Finland that grants adoptive parents the legal right and responsibility to raise a child who is not biologically theirs. This decision is made by a court and is a crucial step in formalizing an adoption.

The process leading to an adoptointipäätös involves several stages. First, prospective adoptive parents must undergo an assessment by social services to ensure they are suitable to raise a child. This assessment considers the applicants' personal circumstances, motivations for adoption, and ability to provide a stable and nurturing environment. If the assessment is positive and a suitable child is identified, either from within Finland or internationally, the application can proceed.

For domestic adoptions, the child's biological parents must consent to the adoption, or their parental rights must have been terminated by the court. In cases of international adoption, the process is more complex and involves agreements between countries and compliance with international adoption conventions.

Once all prerequisites are met, the case is brought before the district court (käräjäoikeus). The court reviews the documentation, including the social services' assessment and any necessary consents, and may hold hearings. If the court finds that the adoption is in the best interest of the child and that the adoptive parents are suitable, it issues an adoptointipäätös.

This decision legally transfers parental rights and responsibilities from the biological parents, if applicable, to the adoptive parents. The child is then considered legally the child of the adoptive parents, with all the same rights and obligations as a biological child. The adoptointipäätös is a final legal act that irrevocably establishes the adoptive family relationship.