Revocation of an Adoption

The Family Law Administration may revoke an adoption if

• the adoptee and the adopter(s) agree, the adoption is to be revoked.
• the adopter(s) are deceased, if the biological parents and the adopted child agree.

The revocation of adoption means that the adopted child and the adoptive parents no longer have a legal relationship. Amoung other things, inheritance rights are eliminated. The revocation of the adoption does not have retroactive legal effects and therefore does not affect, e.g., past inheritance or child support payments.

Although an adoption is revoked, the adopted child retains the right to surname and middlename acquired during the adoption.

If you wish to revoke an adoption, you must submit an application to the Family Law Administration. The application is available upon request. 

A guide to the revocation of adoption is on the last page of the application form.

If you need more information about revocation of adoption or are unsure about something specific, you are welcome to contact the Family Law Administration.