Guatemala Judge Orders U.S. Couple to Return Adopted Girl

By Sheryl Rentz on August 11, 2011

A judge in Guatemala recently ordered a couple in America to return their adopted daughter back to her birth mother, reports CNN. According to the article, Survivors Foundation, a rights organization based in Guatemala City, supports the girls’ mother. In 2006, the group alleges the girl was kidnapped, then adopted and taken to the U.S. For many years, the girl’s parents have fought to get her back.

It is believed that the case is the first time in the country’s history that a judge has ordered a child that was living abroad be returned to Guatemala under such conditions. It is not known how much weight, if any, the judge’s ruling would have in the U.S.

The article notes that Guatemala used to be one of the most popular countries in the world for international adoptions. In 2007, the country sent over 4,500 children to the U.S. alone. However, after reports of fraud and corruption, that number has declined dramatically. Last year, only 50 children from Guatemala were brought to the U.S. for adoption. Each year in the United States, approximately 127,000 adoptions occur, which is the highest rate of adoption in the world.

Whether it is an open or closed adoption, or within the state or an international adoption, there are many complex factors that must be considered and carefully dealt with. At The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, our adoption attorneys in Montgomery County, PA, can provide you with the caring and compassionate legal representation you need. We can thoroughly explain your options to you as well as carefully help you through the adoption process, ensuring each step is completed according to law. To find out more about how our lawyers can help you, call 610-645-0100.