Adopting a Child in France
Talk about adoption plans, ask the right questions at an information meeting and share your decision with a friend.
In France you start an adoption by contacting the children's services (ASE) of your département, which runs information meetings and then assesses you for the agrément, the official approval to adopt; the process can take up to nine months and the agrément lasts five years. Since 2022 married, pacsed or cohabiting couples and single people can adopt from age 26. Few babies are available for adoption in France, so many children waiting are older or in sibling groups, and becoming a famille d'accueil (foster family) is a separate path.
- 1
On pense sérieusement à adopter.
We're seriously thinking about adopting.
- 2
Par où on commence ?
Where do we even start?
- 3
D'abord, il faut aller à une réunion d'information.
First, you have to go to an information meeting.
- 4
Ensuite, on évalue si vous êtes prêts à accueillir un enfant.
Then they assess whether you're ready to take in a child.
- 5
Pour tout ça, il vous faut l'agrément.
For all that, you need the approval.
Tip: This approval is valid for five years.
- 6
Ça prend combien de temps pour l'obtenir ?
How long does it take to get it?
- 7
Ça peut prendre jusqu'à neuf mois.
It can take up to nine months.
- 8
Vous avez pensé à devenir famille d'accueil ?
Have you thought about fostering?
- 9
Ce n'est pas la même chose qu'adopter.
It's not the same as adopting.
- 10
L'enfant peut retourner dans sa famille biologique.
The child may go back to their birth family.
- 11
C'est un long parcours, mais ça en vaut la peine.
It's a long road, but it's worth it.
- 12
On vous pose des questions très personnelles.
They ask you very personal questions.
- 13
Il y a une limite d'âge ?
Is there an age limit?
- 14
Il faut avoir au moins 26 ans.
You have to be at least 26.
- 15
On serait ouverts à un enfant plus grand.
We'd be open to an older child.
- 16
On essaie de ne pas séparer les fratries.
We try not to separate siblings.
- 17
Quels documents faut-il fournir ?
What documents do we need to provide?
- 18
On a décidé de sauter le pas.
We've decided to take the plunge.
- 19
Quelle belle nouvelle !
What wonderful news!
- 20
On en a toujours parlé ouvertement.
We've always talked about it openly.