In order for a court to decide on adoption, the adoptive parent must first actually take care of the child for a certain period of time.
With the consent of the future adoptive parent, it is possible to hand over the adopted child into their care immediately after the child’s parents have given their consent to the adoption. If the child’s parents agree, the child can be handed over to the future adoptive parent earlier, as soon as the child’s health allows. The parents of the adopted child must inform the child’s welfare authority about the transfer of the child.
Care for a child before three months from the date of the parents’ consent to the adoption is not pre-adoption care. After three months from the date consent to adoption was given, the adopted child can be transferred to the adoptive parent for pre-adoption care. A court will decide on such transfer upon the petition of the adoptive parent. A court will decide on the transfer of a child to an adoptive parent in pre-adoption care only after it has carried out an investigation into the mutual suitability of the child and the adoptive parent.
Before a decision is made on adoption, the adopted child must be in the care of the adoptive parent at the adoptive parent’s expense. The adoptive parent’s care of the adopted child must last for a time sufficient for a convincing finding that a relationship has been established between the adoptive parent and the child, which is the meaning and purpose of the adoption. However, pre-adoption care may not last for less than six months.