Adoption

Adoption means taking a child into the family with the rights of a daughter or son, by court decision. The procedure has several stages — candidate status, consents, the court hearing — and each has its own requirements.

When to get in touch

• you are planning to adopt a child
• a husband or wife wishes to adopt their spouse’s child
• the consents required by law have to be obtained
• difficulties have arisen at any stage of the procedure

What the lawyer does

• assesses whether you meet the requirements for an adoptive parent (Article 211 of the Family Code)
• handles the gathering of documents and dealings with the children’s services
• deals with the consent of the child’s parents (Article 217) and the child’s own consent (Article 218)
• prepares the adoption application to the court
• represents the client at the hearing
• advises on the legal consequences and on the confidentiality of adoption

Legal basis

Adoption is defined by Article 207 of the Family Code of Ukraine as the taking of a person into the adoptive parent’s family with the rights of a daughter or son, on the basis of a court decision. An adoptive parent may be a person with legal capacity who is at least twenty-one years old, except where the adoptive parent is a relative of the child (Article 211). Parental consent is governed by Article 217 and the child’s consent by Article 218; the right to confidentiality of adoption is set out in Article 226.

Legislation and case law are updated over time; this page reflects the position as of August 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Who can adopt?

A person with legal capacity aged 21 or over (the age requirement does not apply to relatives of the child) — Article 211 of the Family Code; the law sets further requirements, which we check at the outset.

Is the child’s consent needed?

Yes, where the child has reached an age and level of development at which they can express it (Article 218 of the Family Code); the form of consent depends on age.

Need legal assistance? Call us or leave a request — a lawyer will contact you and go through your situation with care.