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Adoption

Adoption is a legal process ordered by a court in which a child is permanently placed with a family. This establishes a legal parent-child relationship independent of biology. The child’s best interests are always prioritized throughout the process.

Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa is the designated Social Security body responsible for overseeing adoption procedures within its defined jurisdiction.

To further support its mandate, a Protocol was signed between ISS, IP, and SCML in 2019. As a result, SCML broadened its role in adoption and civil sponsorship. Initially, this covered the nine NUT III municipalities in Lisbon’s northern zone: Amadora, Cascais, Lisbon, Loures, Mafra, Odivelas, Oeiras, Sintra, and Vila Franca de Xira. Starting in January 2024, this expansion will encompass the entire Lisbon district, comprising Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos, Azambuja, Cadaval, Lourinhã, Sobral de Monte Agraço, and Torres Vedras. With this context, the next section details the functions of the SCML adoption team.

Within the adoption process, the SCML team’s main functions are:

Processing the assessment of children eligible for adoption, taking into account their needs, and promoting their preparation for subsequent integration into adoptive families;
Inform interested parties about the adoption process and provide information on other legal institutions that support child and family integration.

Preparing, providing training, evaluating, and selecting adoption candidates;
Promote the integration of children into adoptive families, and monitor and evaluate the initial period of coexistence between the children and candidates.
Accompanying families after the adoption is finalized;
Provide information, counseling, and technical support to adopted children and their families, and support their right to access knowledge of their origins.

The child is at the center of the adoption team’s work, and all actions are focused exclusively on the child’s needs.

Therefore, prospective families must be available to:

Participate in the initial assessment and training process;
Establish emotional bonds with the child, maintain open communication about the adoption, and respect the child’s life story and birth family.
Integrate the child into their social network, consisting of family and/or friends;
Collaborate with the team of professionals involved in monitoring the adoption process.

Adoptive parenting differs from biological parenting. It requires respect for the child’s history and emotions. Patience and tailored support are crucial in helping the child adjust to the new family.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

Applicants must meet the following legal requirements to apply for adoption:

Be over 25 years of age, married or in a civil partnership, or single;

Married or partnered applicants must have been in this relationship for at least four years and not be legally separated from their partner.

Applicants must be under 60 years when the child is entrusted. From age 50, the age gap between adopter and child cannot exceed 50 years, except in compelling circumstances for the child’s best interests.

The application will be reviewed and evaluated, with a focus on personality, health, suitability, family background, financial situation, and the reasons for the adoption request.

APPLICATIONS

To begin your application to SCML:

Confirm that you live in one of the following municipalities: Amadora, Cascais, Lisbon, Loures, Mafra, Odivelas, Oeiras, Sintra, Vila Franca de Xira, Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos, Azambuja, Cadaval, Lourinhã, Sobral de Monte Agraço, or Torres Vedras.
Request the registration form for the adoption information session (Session A) by emailing servico.adopcao@scml.pt.
Attend the mandatory, in-person information session (Session A), which will be conducted in Portuguese. This session explains the application process, provides details about children available for adoption, and covers the legal and procedural requirements.

Note: This information session is mandatory, held in person, and conducted in Portuguese.

Applicants cannot appoint substitutes to attend the information session on their behalf. Couples are both required to participate, even if attending at different times.