Azerbaijan, Baku, April 8 / Trend K.Zarbaliyeva /
Just agencies that registered by the Azerbaijani State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs will be authorized to provide legal assistance to foreigners wishing to adopt children from Azerbaijan.
Individual law firms and lawyers are prohibited to provide legal assistance to foreigners wishing to adopt children from Azerbaijan, State Committee's Interstate Adoption Sector Head Vasia Mohsumova said.
She said following the Cabinet of Ministers' approval of the "Rules of the accreditation of agencies providing legal assistance to foreigners and stateless persons in connection with interstate adoptions", such activities are permitted only to the organizations registered in the State Committee.
"Accredited organizations shall maintain documentation of the adoption process, act on behalf of foreign citizens in the court and perform other functions. Three international organizations appealed to the State Committee to this end," Mohsumova said.
Mohsumova said each adoption appeal is properly considered at the committee. The adoption process can take time from six months to a year.
The State Committee makes a decision on the adoption of children by foreigners and stateless persons.
Upon the committee request, family adopting a child within three years every six months should provide the State Committee with info on the living conditions, development and education of the child in a report.