The Gist of it (or jest of it)

Apparently, the PGN is still struggling to come up with processes...so, much of this information may change in the near future. Please keep in mind that even the attorneys that are CURRENTLY meeting with the PGN are not SURE what this will all mean.
1 - Post March 5th (those through June 30th) will be processed with few requirements and reportedly little involvement from the Notary Attorney.
2 - From July 1st on, assignments will come from the Central Authority not the private attorneys. The procedure for this is NOT in place yet. It may be that dossiers are submitted to the Embassy and the Embassy submits them to the CA.
3 - There are 4 orphanages that are licensed by the CA. We are not sure what will happen with the other orphanages..whether they will license them or not.
4 - CA, at this time is not specifying a fee for processing the adoption NOR a donation fee to the orphanage (like some other countries do).
5 - The role of the agency has not been definad...whether they submit to the CA or our Embassy. It may also mean that an agency will have to be licensed with the PGN.
6 - The PGN is creating a website for this information.

Who may adopt (reposted with permission from Rudy Rivera, Children of the World & Focus on Adoption):

Those individuals who have the civil capacity.
- Those that prove their physical, mental, moral, social and economical aptness to give a proper and suitable adoptive home to a child.THIS WOULD IMPLY THAT SINGLES CAN ADOPT. I ANTICIPATE THAT THIS MEANS SINGLE WOMEN, BECAUSE THERE IS STILL THE PREJUDICE AGAINST SINGLE MEN.
- The married individuals.
- The husband and wife may adopt a child, when both of them are in agreement in considering the adoptive child, as their own child. Out of this case, no more than one person may adopt a child. I BELIEVE THIS APPLIES TO TWO SINGLES TRYING TO ADOPT THE SAME CHILD. IF THEY ARE NOT MARRIED THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
- One of the married parties may adopt the child of another person. THIS REFERES TO STEP PARENT ADOPTION.
- The guardian may not adopt the child, if the guardianship matters are not arranged, and if the institution, which supervises the guardian of the minor, has not received the child’s goods. THIS WILL NOT APPLY TO CASES INVOLVING FOREIGN FAMILIES.
V. PROCEDURE FOR THE ADOPTION APPLICATIONS PROCEEDING, PRESENTED FOR FOREING OR GUATEMALAN INDIVIDUALS, WHO ARE DOMICILED ABROAD.

They must address themselves directly to the Office of the Central Authority, which headquarters id located at the above mentioned address, stating their wish to receive in their home, through the noble figure of the adoption social assistance, to one of our abandoned children who need a home;

Also, they may go to the organisms accredited by the Central Authority; THE ABOVE PROVISION STILL KEEP THINGS UP IN THE AIR. TO DATE THERE ARE NO OTHER ORGANISMS CERTIFIED. THEREFORE, THE APPLICATION MUST PROBABLY GO DIRECLTY TO THE CENTRAL AUTHORITY. THEY WILL APPROVE THE ASSIGMENT AND THE CHILD WILL COME FROM ONE OF THE FOUR ACCREDITED ORPHANAGES, WHICH NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW FOR CERTAIN THEIR IDENTITY. THE INTENT HERE IS TO LIMIT THE NOTARY'S ABILITY TO MAKE THE ASSIGMENT OF THE CHILD. I WAS TOLD THAT HE COULD STILL WORK IN THE PROCESS BUT HIS OR HER ROLE IS NOT CLEAR. IT IS ALSO STILL UNCERTAIN IF THE THE AGENCIES WILL SEND DOSSIERS DIRECTLY TO THE CENTRAL AUTHORITY. THE EMBASSY HAS STATED THAT THEY DID NOT AGREE TO ACCEPT ADOPTIVE FAMILIES DOSSIER.

The applications must contain the personal and family data, such as the age, date of marriage, school education, occupation, income, housing, others, and the motivation they have to adopt a child;

They must enclose to the application, the home study prepared by professional individuals in said areas, and assigned to an official entity or an agency which has the license of the Government of that country, authorized to have international adoptions programs, authorized by the Central Authority of Guatemala;

Good physical and metal health of the interested parties, issued by a Medical Doctor, legally authorized;
- Home study prepared by an official of private institution, duly authorized by the Government of the adoptive parents;

NOWHERE DOES IT STATE THE LIST OF REQUIREMENTS THAT A PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORT IS REQUIRED. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD BY MS. LARIOS TODAY THAT THE PSYCOLOGICAL WOULD BE A REQUIREMENT. A REPORT WOULD BE REQUIRED OF EVERYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD OVER THE AGE OF SEVEN YEARS.

THIS LIST HAS NOT CLARIFIED MUCH AND NOTHING NEW WAS POSTED AS OF 7 P.M. GUATEMALA TIME. THERE ARE STILL MANY PROCEDURAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESLOVED. FOR EXAMPLE, THE MECHANICS OF SUBMITTING THE DOSSIER TO THE CENTRAL AUTHORITY; THE MECHANICS OF GETTING THE ASSIGMENT; WHAT ROLE WILL THE NOTARY PLAY IN THIS; WHAT ABOUT FAMILIES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO VISIT THE CHILD BEFORE THE ADOPTION IS COMPLETE; WILL AGENCIES NEED TO BE ACCREDITED; MS. LARIOS ALSO STATED S THAT THE PLAN IS TO LICENSE MORE ORPHANAGES BUT THEY WILL START WITH FOUR.