Home / Social Welfare / Childhood, youth and family / Civil sponsorship

Civil sponsorship

A permanent legal relationship forms in civil sponsorship when the adoption requirements are not met. This bond joins a child or youth with an individual or family exercising parental powers and duties, with a focus on emotional support for well-being and healthy development. Civil sponsorship does not confer legal parent status.

Civil sponsorship offers an alternative when biological parents cannot provide care. Unlike adoption, civil sponsorship requires that biological parents and their children continue some form of contact, whereas adoption usually ends legal ties between biological parents and children.

This legal relationship allows the individual or family to assume parental responsibilities for the child or young person.

This relationship is formalized when sponsors qualify. After assessment, individuals or families are certified as suitable and autonomous to take on these responsibilities.

Emotional bonds within this relationship support the child or young person’s well-being, and the relationship is governed by a formal written agreement. Sponsors, parents, the child or young person, and a supporting entity all sign the agreement. The agreement may be signed first with the authorizing entity and then approved by the court, or it may be approved by court order from the outset. There is always a note in the civil register on the birth certificate.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

Civil sponsorship is simpler and faster than adoption, but sponsors do not gain full legal parent status. Both require strict standards, parental duties, and the formation of strong bonds; only adoption provides complete parental rights.

SCML, the body qualifying Civil Sponsorship candidates, must identify the following, as required by Decree-Law No. 121/2010 of October 27:

Maturity, affective capacity, and emotional stability;

Educational and relational skills to meet the specific needs of the child or young person and promote their integral development;

Housing and hygiene conditions;

Economic, professional, and family situation;

Absence of health limitations that prevent the provision of the necessary care to the child or young person;

Motivation and positive expectations for applying for civil sponsorship;

Willingness to cooperate with the support provided for in Article 20 of Law No. 103/2009 of September 11;

Willingness to receive training provided by the competent bodies;

Willingness to respect the rights of parents or other people relevant to the child or young person;

Ability and willingness to promote cooperation with parents in creating conditions appropriate for the well-being and development of the child or young person;

Positive validation of the position of the candidates’ household members and other family members with influence on the family dynamics, in light of the civil sponsorship bond.

To be eligible, neither candidates nor anyone living with them may have convictions under paragraph a) of No. 3, Article 2 of Law No. 113/2009 of September 17. The criminal record certificate should comply with Articles 4 and 5 of that Law.

A godparent candidate must not be banned from, or have had, parental responsibilities limited under Article 1918 of the Civil Code.

Article 3 of Law No. 9/2010 of 31 March and Article 7 of Law No. 7/2001 of 11 May also apply to sponsor qualification. They should be adapted as needed.

APPLICATIONS

Interested residents in certain municipalities* are invited to schedule a session with Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa’s Adoption, Civil Sponsorship, and Foster Care Unit to learn more about the application process.

*(Amadora, Cascais, Lisbon, Loures, Mafra, Odivelas, Oeiras, Sintra, and Vila Franca de Xira, Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos, Azambuja, Cadaval, Lourinhã, Sobral de Monte Agraço, and Torres Vedras.)