Adoption in São Paulo
Registry adoption, stepchild adoption, international and post-mortem adoption — always governed by the child's best interest. In person at Avenida Paulista or remotely.
5,0 · 18 Google reviewsAdoption creates a full parent-child bond — irrevocable and equal to biological filiation (CF, art. 227, §6º; ECA, arts. 39-52). The paths differ: registry adoption through the Cadastro Nacional, stepchild adoption for a spouse's or partner's child, international adoption for residents abroad, and post-mortem for a bond formed before death.
The paths of adoption.
- Registry adoptionThe Cadastro Nacional de Adoção process: qualification, matching and the judicial decree — the standard path.
- Stepchild adoptionThe spouse's or partner's child already in the home — faster, without the registry, requiring the biological parent's consent or its waiver.
- International adoptionFor adopters residing abroad — the central authority and international cooperation route (ECA, arts. 51-52).
- Post-mortem adoptionWhen the adoptee dies during the proceedings, the adoption can still be granted to the adopter who had already expressed the will to adopt (ECA, art. 42, §5).
- Consent and its waiversWhen the biological parent's consent is required — and when abandonment, abuse or unfitness removes the requirement.
- Unilateral and single-parent adoptionAdoption by one person — legally permitted, with the same requirements as couples.
- Effects and irrevocabilityThe adopted child is a full legal child — surname, inheritance, support — and the bond cannot be undone.
Adoption is irrevocable — the child's best interest is the standard.
Adoption is irrevocable by constitutional design: once decreed, the adopted child is a full child — name, inheritance, support — and the bond cannot be dissolved. That permanence is what justifies the procedure's rigor.
The registry path is the longest: qualification in the Cadastro Nacional de Adoção, matching by profile and a supervised adaptation period before the decree. The wait is measured in months or years — and the matching rules prioritize older children and sibling groups.
Stepchild adoption is different: the child is already in the home, so the registry is not required. The other biological parent's consent is needed — or its judicial waiver when there is abandonment or the parent is unknown.
Post-mortem adoption recognizes the bond that existed but was never formalized: the person who raised the child as their own but died before the decree. It requires proof of intent and cohabitation — and grants full filiation effects retroactively.
How we run the case.
- Choose the pathRegistry, stepchild, international or post-mortem — each with its own procedure.
- Qualify or gather proofRegistry qualification, or the evidence of the existing bond.
- Secure consentsBiological parents' consent — or the judicial waiver where legally grounded.
- Obtain the decreeThe judicial order that creates full filiation — irrevocable and equal to biological.
What to bring to the first conversation.
Documents that speed up the review
The evidence of the bond and the adopters' qualification are the basis of the case.
- Adopters' ID and civil-status documents
- Proof of income and residence
- Criminal background certificates
- The child's birth certificate
- Biological parents' consent or evidence of abandonment
- Marriage or stable-union documents
- Health and psychological assessments
- International residency documents, for international adoption
Case review and a written proposal before any step is taken. Informational content under Brazilian Bar Association Rule 205/2021 — it does not replace an assessment of your case.
What clients say on Google.
“From the very start I was looked after exceptionally. The team is attentive and explains every step.”
Amanda M. · Google“Excellent, highly qualified professionals. I highlight the professionalism, the service and the honesty.”
Rita G. · Google“Very polite, patient, always with precise, accurate answers. I recommend them with no reservations!”
Thais T. · GoogleTranslations of real client reviews published on Google.
Who leads this area.
Founding partner at Falchet e Marques (OAB/SP 428.777). Postgraduate in Real Estate Law (PUC/SP) and Succession Law (PUC-Campinas), she leads the real estate, family and probate practice. Straight to the point, no legalese.
Meet Letícia MarquesCommon questions.
Is adoption permanent?
Yes — irrevocable by constitutional design. The adopted child becomes a full legal child with all rights of biological filiation, and the bond cannot be undone.
How long does registry adoption take?
Months to years — qualification, matching by profile and a supervised adaptation period. The matching rules prioritize older children, sibling groups and children with health conditions.
Does stepchild adoption require the other parent's consent?
Yes — or its judicial waiver when the biological parent abandoned the child, is unfit or unknown. The registry is not required for stepchild adoption.
Can a single person adopt?
Yes — unilateral adoption is legally permitted with the same requirements as couples. The procedure and the child's best interest govern.
What is post-mortem adoption?
When the adoptee dies during the adoption proceedings, the judgment can still be granted if the adopter had already expressed the will to adopt in a hearing (ECA, art. 42, §5) — the filiation is constituted with full effects.
Can foreigners adopt Brazilian children?
Yes, through international adoption — handled by the central authority with international cooperation. The process is distinct and adds consular layers.
Which adoption path applies to your situation?
Send the facts of the bond and the child's situation: we identify the right path and prepare the case — with a written proposal.