Adoption Law of the PRC (Chinese and English Text)

ADOPTION LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (Amended in November 1998)Contents Chapter Ⅰ General Provisions Chapter ⅡThe Establishment of Adoptive Relationship Chapter Ⅲ Validity of Adoption Chapter Ⅳ Termination of the Adoptive Relationship Chapter Ⅴ Legal Responsibility Chapter Ⅵ Supplementary Provisions Chapter ⅠGeneral ProvisionsArticle 1 This Law is enacted to protect the lawful adoptive relationship and to safeguard the rights of parties involved in the adoptive relationship.Article 2 Adoption shall be in the interest of the upbringing and growth of adopted minors and in the protection of the legitimate rights of the adoptee and the adopter, in conformity with the principle of equality and voluntariness, and not in contravention of social morality.Article 3 Adoption shall not contravene laws and regulations on family planning.Chapter ⅡThe Establishment of adoptive relationshipArticle 4 Minors under the age of 14, as enumerated below, may be adopted.(1)orphans bereaved of parents;(2)abandoned infants or children whose parents cannot be ascertained or found; or (3)children whose parents are unable to rear them due to unusual difficulties.Article 5 The following citizens or institutions are entitled to place out children for adoption:(1)guardians of an orphan;(2)social welfare institutions; (3)parents unable to rear their children due to unusual difficulties.Article 6 Adopters shall meet simultaneously the following requirements;(1)childless;(2)capable of rearing and educating the adoptee; (3)no illness which is deemed medically as inappropriate for the adopter to adopt children; and(4)having reached the age of 30.Article 7 The adoption of a child belonging to a collateral relative by blood of the same generation and up to the third degree of kinship, may not be confined to the restrictions specified in Item (3), Article 4; Item (3), Article 5; and Article 9 of this law as well as the restriction of a minor under the age of 14.An overseas Chinese, in adopting a child belonging to a collateral relative by blood of the same generation and up to the third degree of kinship, may even be not subject to the adopter childless status.Article 8 The adopter may adopt one child only, male or female.Orphans, disabled children or abandoned infants and children, who are raised in the social welfare institutes, and whose biological parents can not be ascertained or found, may be adopted irrespective of the restrictions that the adopter shall be childless and adopt one child only.Article 9 Where a male person without spouse adopts a female child, the age difference between the adopter and adoptee shall be no less than 40 years.Article 10 Where the parents intend to place out their child for adoption, they must act in concert. If one parent cannot be ascertained or found, the other parent may place out the child for adoption alone.Where a person with spouse adopts a child, the husband and wife must adopt the child in concert.Article 11 Adoption of a child and the placing out of the child for the adoption shall both take place on a voluntary basis.Where the adoption involves a minor aged 10 or more, the consent of the adoptee shall be obtained.Article 12 If the parents of a minor are both persons without full civil capacity, the guardian(s) of the minor may not place out him(her) for adoption, except when the parents may do serious harm to the minor.Article 13 Where a guardian intends to place out an orphaned minor for adoption, the guardian must obtain the consent of the person who has obligations to support the orphan. Where the person who has obligations to support the orphan disagrees to have the orphan adopted, and the guardian is unwilling to continue the performance of his guardianship, it is necessary to change the guardian in accordance with the General Principles of the Civil Law of the People's Republic of China.Article 14 A step-father or step-mother may, with the consent of the parents of the step-son or step-daughter, adopt the step-son or step-daughter, and such adoption may be free from the restrictions specified in Item(3), Article 4; Item (3), Article 5 and Article 6 of this law, as well as from the restriction that the adoptee must be under the age of 14 and the adopter may adopt one child only.Article 15 Adoption shall be registered at the department of civil affairs of the people's government above county level. The adoptive relationship comes into force on the date of its registration.The department of civil affairs in charge of registration shall, prior to the registration, make an announcement in the adoption of abandoned infants and children whose biological parents can not be ascertained or found.Should the parties involved in the adoptive relationship wish to conclude an adoption agreement, a written agreement on adoption shall be concluded.Should the parties or one of the parties involved in the adoptive relationship wish that the adoption be notarized, the adoption shall be notarized.Article 16 After the establishment of adoptive relationship, the public security organ shall, in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations of the State, carry out registration of residence for the adoptee.Article 17 Orphans or children whose parents are unable to rear them may be supported by relatives or friends of their parents.The adoptive relationship shall not apply to the relationship between the supporter and the supported.Article 18 Where a spouse places out a minor child for adoption after the death of the other spouse, the parents of the deceased shall have the priority in rearing the child.Article 19 The parents of a child adopted by others may not bear any more child in violation of the regulations on family planning on the ground of having placed out their child for adoption.Article 20 It is strictly forbidden to buy or sell a child or to do so under the cloak of adoption.Article 21 A foreigner may, in accordance with this law, adopt a child(male or female) in the People's Republic of China.When a foreigner adopts a child in the People's Republic of China, his or her adoption shall be examined and approved by the responsible agency of the adopter's resident country in accordance with the country's law. The adopter shall submit papers certifying such particulars of the adopter as age, marital status, profession, property, health, and whether subjected once to criminal punishment, which are provided by the authoritative agency of his or her resident country. Such certifying papers shall be authenticated by the department of foreign affairs of the country of his or her residence, agency authorized by the department of foreign affairs and by the Embassy or Consulate of the People's Republic of China in the country concerned. The adopter shall conclude a written agreement with the person placing out the child for adoption and register in person with the department of civil affairs of the people's government at the provincial level.Should the parties or one of the parties involved in the adoptive relationship request to carry out notarization, they shall go to a designated notary agency qualified for foreign-related notarization authorized by the judicial administration department of the State Council for adoptive notarization.Article 22 When the adopter and the person placing out the child for adoption wish to make a secret of the adoption, others shall respect their wish and shall not make a disclosure thereof.Chapter ⅢValidity of Adoption Article 23 As of the date of establishment of the adoptive relationship, the legal provisions governing the relationship between parents and children shall apply to the rights and duties in the relationship between adoptive parents and adopted children; the legal provisions governing the relationship between children and close relatives of their parents shall apply to the rights and duties in the relationship between adopted children and close relatives of the adoptive parents.The rights and duties in the relationship between an adopted child and his or her parents and other close relatives shall terminate with the establishment of the adoptive relationship.Article 24 An adopted child may adopt his or her adoptive father's or adoptive mother's surname, and may also retain his or her original surname, if so agreed through consultation between the parents concerned.Article 25 Any act of adoption contravening the provisions of Article 55 of the General Principles of the Civil Law of the People's Republic of China and those of this law shall be of no legal validity.Any act of adoption ruled to be invalid by a people's court shall be of no legal validity from the very start of the act.Chapter ⅣTermination of the Adoptive RelationshipArticle 26 No adopter may terminate the adoptive relationship before the adoptee comes of age, except when the adopter and the person having placed out the child for the adoption agree to terminate such relationship. If the adopted child involved reaches the age of 10 or more, his or her consent shall be obtained.Where an adopter fails to perform the duty of rearing the adoptee or commits maltreatment, abandonment, or other acts of encroachment upon the lawful rights of the minor adopted child, the person having placed out the child for adoption has the right to demand the termination of the adoptive relationship. Where the adopter and the person having placed out the child for adoption fail to reach an agreement thereon, a suit may be brought in a people's court.Article 27 Where the relationship between the adoptive parents and an adult adopted child deteriorates to such a degree that their living together in a same household becomes impossible, they may terminate their adoptive relationship by agreement. In the absence of an agreement, they may bring a suit in a people's court.Article 28 When reaching an agreement on the termination of the adoptive relationship, the parties involved shall complete the procedure for registering the termination of the adoptive relationship at a department of civil affairs.Article 29 Upon the termination of an adoptive relationship, the rights and duties in the relationship between an adopted child and his or her adoptive parents and their close relatives shall also terminate, and the rights and duties in the relationship between the child and his or her parents and their close relatives shall be restored automatically. However, with respect to the rights and duties in the relationship between an adult adopted child and his or her parents and their close relatives, it may be decided through consultation as to whether to restore them. Article 30 Upon termination of an adoptive relationship, an adult adopted child who has been reared by the adoptive parents shall provide an amount of money to support the adoptive parents who have lost ability to work and are short of any source of income. If the adoptive relationship is terminated on account of the maltreatment or desertion of the adoptive parents by the grown-up adopted child, the adoptive parents may demand a compensation from the adopted child for the living and education expenses paid during the period of adoption.If the parents of an adopted child request the termination of the adoptive relationship, the adoptive parents may demand an appropriate compensation from the parents for the living and education expenses paid during the period of adoption, except if the adoptive relationship is terminated on account of the maltreatment or desertion of the adoption of the adopted child by the adoptive parents.Chapter ⅤLegal ResponsibilityArticle 31 Whoever abducts and trafficks in a child under the cloak of adoption shall be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with law.Whoever abandons an infant shall be imposed upon a fine by the public security organ; if the cricumstances constitute a crime, the offender shall be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with law.Whoever sells his or her own child shall be imposed a fine with his or her illegal proceeds confiscated by the public security organ; if the circumstances constitute a crime, the offender shall be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with law. Chapter ⅥSupplementary ProvisionsArticle 32 The people's congress and its standing committee in a national autonomous area may, on the basis of the principles of this Law and in the light of the local conditions, formulate adaptive or supplementary provisions.The relevant regulations of a national autonomous region shall be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record. The relevant regulations of an autonomous prefecture or autonomous county shall be submitted to the standing committee of the provincial or autonomous region's people's congress for approval before coming into force, and shall also be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record.Article 33 The State Council may, in accordance with this law, formulate measures for its implementation.Article 34 This Law shall enter into force on April 1, 1992.　Note: The English translation has not been examined and approved by the legislative body and can not be used as basis for law enforcement and public prosecution. Therefore it is for your reference only.中华人民共和国收养法1991年12月29日第七届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十三次会议通过 （根据1998年11月4日 第九届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第五次会议《关于修改中华人民共和国收养法>的决定》修正） 目 录第一章 总则 　　第二章 收养关系的成立 　　第三章 收养的效力 　　第四章 收养关系的解除 　　第五章 法律责任 　　第六章 附则 第一章 总则第一条 为保护合法的收养关系，维护收养关系当事人的权利，制定本法。 　　第二条 收养应当有利于被收养的未成年人的抚养、成长，保障被收养人和收养人的合法权益，遵循平等自愿的原则，并不得违背社会公德。 　　第三条 收养不得违背计划生育的法律、法规。 第二章 收养关系的成立第四条 下列不满十四周岁的未成年人可以被收养：　　(一)丧失父母的孤儿；　　(二)查找不到生父母的弃婴和儿童；　　(三)生父母有特殊困难无力抚养的子女。 　　第五条 下列公民、组织可以作送养人：　　(一)孤儿的监护人；　　(二)社会福利机构；　　(三)有特殊困难无力抚养子女的生父母。 　　第六条 收养人应当同时具备下列条件：　　(一)无子女；　　(二)有抚养教育被收养人的能力；　　(三)未患有在医学上认为不应当收养子女的疾病；　　(四)年满三十周岁。 　　第七条 收养三代以内同辈旁系血亲的子女，可以不受本法第四条第三项、第五条第三项、第九条和被收养人不满十四周岁的限制。　　华侨收养三代以内同辈旁系血亲的子女，还可以不受收养人无子女的限制。 　　第八条 收养人只能收养一名子女。　　收养孤儿、残疾儿童或者社会福利机构抚养的查找不到生父母的弃婴和儿童，可以不受收养人无子女和收养一名的限制。　　第九条 无配偶的男性收养女性的，收养人与被收养人的年龄应当相差四十周岁以上。　　第十条 生父母送养子女，须双方共同送养。生父母一方不明或者查找不到的可以单方送养。有配偶者收养子女，须夫妻共同收养。　　第十一条 收养人收养与送养人送养，须双方自愿。收养年满十周岁以上未成年人的，应当征得被收养人的同意。　　第十二条 未成年人的父母均不具备完全民事行为能力的，该未成年人的监护人不得将其送养，但父母对该未成年人有严重危害可能的除外。　　第十三条 监护人送养未成年孤儿的，须征得有抚养义务的人同意。有抚养义务的人不同意送养、监护人不愿意继续履行监护职责的，应当依照《中华人民共和国民法通则》的规定变更监护人。　　第十四条 继父或者继母经继子女的生父母同意，可以收养继子女，并可以不受本法第四条第三项、第五条第三项、第六条和被收养人不满十四周岁以及收养一名的限制。　　第十五条 收养应当向县级以上人民政府民政部门登记。收养关系自登记之日起成立。　　收养查找不到生父母的弃婴和儿童的，办理登记的民政部门应当在登记前予以公告。　　收养关系当事人愿意订立收养协议的，可以订立收养协议。　　收养关系当事人各方或者一方要求办理收养公证的，应当办理收养公证。 　　第十六条 收养关系成立后，公安部门应当依照国家有关规定为被收养人办理户口登记。　　第十七条 孤儿或者生父母无力抚养的子女，可以由生父母的亲属、朋友抚养。　　抚养人与被抚养人的关系不适用收养关系。　　第十八条 配偶一方死亡，另一方送养未成年子女的，死亡一方的父母有优先抚养的权利。　　第十九条 送养人不得以送养子女为理由违反计划生育的规定再生育子女。　　第二十条 严禁买卖儿童或者借收养名义买卖儿童。　　第二十一条 外国人依照本法可以在中华人民共和国收养子女。　　外国人在中华人民共和国收养子女，应当经其所在国主管机关依照该国法律审查同意。收养人应当提供由其所在国有权机构出具的有关收养人的年龄、婚姻、职业、财产、健康、有无受过刑事处罚等状况的证明材料，该证明材料应当经其所在国外交机关或者外交机关授权的机构认证，并经中华人民共和国驻该国使领馆认证。该收养人应当与送养人订立书面协议，亲自向省级人民政府民政部门登记。　　收养关系当事人各方或者一方要求办理收养公证的，应当到国务院司法行政部门认定的具有办理涉外公证资格的公证机构办理收养公证。 　　第二十二条 收养人、送养人要求保守收养秘密的，其他人应当尊重其意愿，不得泄露。 第三章 收养的效力第二十三条 自收养关系成立之日起，养父母与养子女间的权利义务关系，适用法律关于父母子女关系的规定；养子女与养父母的近亲属间的权利义务关系，适用法律关于子女与父母的近亲属关系的规定。养子女与生父母及其他近亲属间的权利义务关系，因收养关系的成立而消除。　　第二十四条 养子女可以随养父或者养母的姓，经当事人协商一致，也可以保留原姓。　　第二十五条 违反《中华人民共和国民法通则》第五十五条和本法规定的收养行为无法律效力。收养行为被人民法院确认无效的，从行为开始时起就没有法律效力。 第四章 收养关系的解除第二十六条 收养人在被收养人成年以前，不得解除收养关系，但收养人、送养人双方协议解除的除外，养子女年满十周岁以上的，应当征得本人同意。收养人不履行抚养义务，有虐待、遗弃等侵害未成年养子女合法权益行为的，送养人有权要求解除养父母与养子女间的收养关系。送养人、收养人不能达成解除收养关系协议的，可以向人民法院起诉。 　　第二十七条 养父母与成年养子女关系恶化、无法共同生活的，可以协议解除收养关系。不能达成协议的，可以向人民法院起诉。　　第二十八条 当事人协议解除收养关系的，应当到民政部门办理解除收养关系的登记。　　第二十九条 收养关系解除后，养子女与养父母及其他近亲属间的权利义务关系即行消除，与生父母及其他近亲属间的权利义务关系自行恢复，但成年养子女与生父母及其他近亲属间的权利义务关系是否恢复，可以协商确定。　　第三十条 收养关系解除后，经养父母抚养的成年养子女，对缺乏劳动能力又缺乏生活来源的养父母，应当给付生活费。因养子女成年后虐待、遗弃养父母而解除收养关系的，养父母可以要求养子女补偿收养期间支出的生活费和教育费。生父母要求解除收养关系的，养父母可以要求生父母适当补偿收养期间支出的生活费和教育费，但因养父母虐待、遗弃养子女而解除收养关系的除外。 第五章 法律责任第三十一条 借收养名义拐卖儿童的，依法追究刑事责任。　　遗弃婴儿的，由公安部门处以罚款；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。　　出卖亲生子女的，由公安部门没收非法所得，并处以罚款；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。第六章 附 则第三十二条 民族自治地方的人民代表大会及其常务委员会可以根据本法的原则，结合当地情况，制定变通的或者补充的规定。自治区的规定,报全国人民代表大会常务委员会备案。自治州、自治县的规定，报省或者自治区的人民代表大会常务委员会批准后生效，并报全国人民代表大会常务委员会备案。　　第三十三条 国务院可以根据本法制定实施办法。　　第三十四条 本法自1992年4月1日起施行。