Couples go online to adopt babies

SINGAPORE - More childless couples are turning to online forums to look for a baby. Dozens of posts on adoption can be found on various parenting websites.

Some women cited cost and the ease of mind as factors for taking their search online, reported The Straits Times.

One woman, who had e-mailed Caly after seeing her online post, told The New Paper that she was prepared to pay up to $15,000 for the baby. But Caly did not respond to her e-mail.

Dancer Jackie Othman, 38, said: "I am too old to have my own child and even if I could, I've always wanted a baby girl."

Another childless couple who had been keen on adopting Caly's baby said they wanted to avoid the long process of adoption.

The married couple of 11 years have given up trying for a baby after three miscarriages.

The wife, a 40-year-old car sales manager who wanted to be known only as Dawn, said: "My Dutch husband and I didn't mind having to pay some money - anything below $20,000 is reasonable for us."

They recently placed ads on one parenting website and three online classified forums, instead of approaching adoption agencies accredited with Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) or a commercial agent.

Dawn said: "The length of time (from five to seven months) from application to approval is too long. And this does not include the briefing we have to attend."

Since 2012, prospective adopters must attend a Pre-Adoption Briefing before identifying a child or beginning the adoption process.

An MSF spokesman said: "The steps in the adoption process are meant to prepare the prospective adopters for adoption and safeguard the interests of the child."

Dawn said: "I can understand the rationale behind that, but we just don't have the time."

Since their online ads appeared two weeks ago, Dawn said she has received about eight offers.

But only two women have asked for money.

Use proper channels: Ministry

Caly did not approach any agencies accredited with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to put her daughter up for adoption.

She also asked for and accepted money without making any application to the Family Court during the process.

The New Paper understands that what she did may not have been legal.

A spokesman for MSF said: "Adoption is governed under the Adoption of Children Act (ACA). The Family Court is the authority that decides on adoption applications, and prospective adopters must initiate and complete the legal process in adopting a child."

Without the legal process, any voluntary placement of a child with another family would be considered an informal care arrangement, rather than an "illegal" adoption.

It is against the law to pay the adopted child's biological parents. Under the Children and Young Persons Act, offenders can be jailed up to five years, or fined up to $10,000, or both.

PROHIBITED

The MSF spokesman said: "The ACA prohibits any payment or reward to the biological or adoptive parents for the adoption of the child, except with the sanction of the Court. The Court requires the prospective adopters to provide details if there are financial transactions in obtaining the child."

MSF-accredited agencies, such as Touch Family Services and Apkim Centre for Social Services, "offer counselling for the birth parents, as well as facilitate the adoption process and match the child to suitable adopters".

Ms Gloria James, a lawyer with Gloria James-Civetta & Co, said: "Asking for monies would make the adoption 'transaction' illegal, as parties are not supposed to exchange payment.

"Even if no monies have been exchanged, the paperwork must be filed in court. Without a formal adoption, the status of the child (who the child belongs to) would become an issue."

In Caly's case, Ms James said: "The child could be ordered to be returned to the natural parents. If they are not capable of taking care of the child, MSF can put the child under foster care."

This article was first published on June 28, 2014.
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