Embassy of the United States

Adoption in Jordan

Legal Adoption in Jordan

"Adoption" in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (GOJ) falls under the purview of two significant bodies: The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and Islamic family courts, as Islam is the official religion of Jordan. Non-Jordanian or Jordanian families wishing to adopt a Jordanian child must adhere to the conditions and law set forth by both of these institutions. Islam does not recognize the term “adoption,” nor does it allow a child to take the family name of a non-biological parent, i.e., an 'adoptive' parent. This step ensures that there is no confusion of bloodlines and inheritance. (Islam dictates that each child inherits a specific percentage of a father’s estate, regardless of the terms of a will.) Legally and officially, all official parties use either “fostering” or “legal guardianship.” In Jordan, as well as other Arab Islamic countries, these terms are used interchangeably for the non-Islamic term of "adoption."

Regardless of nationality, all couples are required to apply and qualify to become prospective foster parents with the appropriate section of the MSD. The pre-qualification process is similar to those in the U.S. and includes, among other steps, a home-study and visit, interviews by the MSD social workers, financial statements, medical certificates verifying that both prospective parents are infertile. A MSD committee reviews the results, and if conditions are met and legal, the Minister of Social Development issues his/her approval.

Those couples who qualify and meet all legal and social requirements set forth by the GOJ and the MSD, are escorted to a government-run orphanage to chose from children whose parents are unknown. Under Islam, no child may be put up for "adoption" if one or both parents or a relative (however distant) is known. Therefore, the only children couples may select are those for whom there are no known parents or relatives. An abandoned child, who is the responsibility of the GOJ and the MSD, is placed and cared-for in a MSD orphanage.

According to the precepts of Islam and the laws of the GOJ governing the "adoption" of abandoned infants, the foster parents are permitted to choose the first name of the abandoned child. The GOJ’s Ministry of Interior, Civil Status (Affairs) Registry Office, chooses four (4) fictitious name for the mother and father, which along with the first are placed on the child’s Jordanian birth certificate. Parent’s names, which are chosen at random and do not identify with any common Jordanian family or tribal names, are required for issuance of a Jordanian birth certificates. The child, per Jordanian law, will carry the names of the fictitious father. Once a birth certificate has been issued, the child is also issued a GOJ “Family Book” and a Jordanian Passport.