¹ The federal central authority is the administrative authority designated by the Federal Council.

² It has the following tasks:

A.

Receive and transmit communications and reports on international adoptions (s. 6, para. 2, 9, let. A, d and e, 13, 15, al. 2, 16, para. 2, 17, 18, 20 and 21, para. 1, let. B, CLaH), if it has not delegated these functions to the cantonal central authorities;

B.

Advise the cantonal central authorities in the legal field;

C.

To represent Switzerland to foreign central authorities;

D.

Issue general guidelines for the implementation of the Convention;

E.

Promote the exchange of experience and coordination of adoption between the cantonal central authorities, the intermediaries for adoption (intermediaries) and the federal authorities.

¹ The cantonal central authority is the authority designated under Art. 316, para. 1 ^Bis , of the Civil Code (CC) ¹ (art. 6, CLaH).

² Subject to Art. 2, it is competent to carry out the functions which the Convention confers on the central authorities, in particular to:

A.

Investigate and report on the legal capacity and suitability of prospective adoptive parents as well as the adoptability of the child (art. 9, let. A, 15, para. 1, 16, para. 1, and 20, CLaH);

B.

Decide to entrust the child to the prospective adoptive parents, approve the relevant decision taken by the foreign central authority and authorise the continuation of the procedure (Art. 17 CLaH);

C.

Decide on the return of the child to the State of origin (art. 21, para. 1, let. C, CLaH);

D.

Issue the certificate (s. 23, para. 1, CLaH), when adoption was pronounced in Switzerland.

¹ A person who wishes to adopt a child of a Contracting State must, where appropriate with the assistance of an intermediary, submit to the cantonal central authority a request for provisional authorisation for placement ¹ .

² The procedure is governed by the order of 19 October 1977 regulating the placement of children ² .

¹ The cantonal central authority establishes a file on prospective adoptive parents. This shall include, inter alia:

A.

Temporary placement authorization ¹ ;

B.

The report on prospective adoptive parents (art. 15, para. 1, CLaH);

C.

Required translations.

² When the case is prepared by an intermediary, the cantonal central authority shall examine whether it is complete and correct; if necessary, it shall complete it.

³ The federal central authority shall examine whether the file is complete and transmit the required documents to the central authority of the child's State of origin; if it finds deficiencies, it shall refer the case back to the cantonal central authority, which shall complete it.

After receiving the report on the child and evidence that the required consents have been obtained (s. 16 CLaH), the cantonal central authority ensures that prospective adoptive parents agree to welcome the child (art. 17, let. A, CLaH). They must sign a declaration to that effect.

¹ The cantonal central authority shall decide, in accordance with Art. 8 and 9, the continuation of the procedure (Art. 17, let. B and c, CLaH).

² It addresses its decision, the declaration of the prospective adoptive parents (art. 6) and the translations required by the Federal Central Authority, which shall transmit them to the central authority of the child's State of origin.

³ The cantonal central authority informs the child protection authority ¹ The domicile of the prospective adoptive parents.

¹ When the child is only to be adopted after placement in Switzerland, the procedure continues:

A.

If the cantonal central authority, as the supervisory authority on placement, permits prospective adoptive parents to receive the child in accordance with the order of 19 October 1977 regulating the placement of children ¹ , and

B.

Whether the aliens police grant the visa or grant the residence permit.

² When the child is to be adopted in the State of origin, prior to travel, the procedure continues:

A.

If the cantonal central authority allows for adoption in the State of origin (Art. 9), and

B.

If the aliens police grant the visa or grant the authorisation of establishment or residence, provided that the adoption does not confer Swiss nationality.

³ When the child is to be adopted in his or her State of origin, but after placement in Switzerland, para. 1 is applicable.

¹ The cantonal central authority shall authorise the adoption in the State of origin of the following conditions:

A.

The child is at least sixteen years younger than the adoptive parents;

B.

All circumstances provide that the adoption will be for the benefit of the child without inequitable impairment of the situation of other children of the adoptive parents;

C.

Adoptive parents meet the conditions set out in s. 264 A And 264 B , CC ¹ ;

D.

If the cantonal central authority has ensured that the necessary consents have been obtained (Art. 4, let. C and d, CLaH).

² Where the State of origin does not require that the adoption be preceded by a probationary period and there has not yet been any personal contact between the adoptive parents and the child, the cantonal central authority shall authorise the adoption only if the parents Adoptive parents first meet the child.

If the adoption in the State of origin confers Swiss nationality on the child, the Federal Central Authority shall establish a document authorizing it to enter Switzerland.

¹ Adoptive parents must immediately announce the arrival of the child to the cantonal central authority.

² The cantonal central authority shall inform the child protection authority, the federal central authority and, where appropriate, the police of aliens.

When the child has been adopted in Switzerland, the cantonal central authority shall draw up the adoption certificate (Art. 23, para. 1, CLaH).

¹ When a child habitually resident in Switzerland is to be adopted abroad, the cantonal central authority shall carry out the investigation (Art. 4 and 16, CLaH).

² It ensures that prospective adoptive parents accept the child (art. 17, let. A, CLaH).

³ It shall decide on the continuation of the procedure (Art. 17, let. B and c, CLaH).

At the request of the Federal Central Authority, the competent cantonal authorities shall inform it of the procedures to be carried out under the Convention.

¹ The Federal Central Authority receives a fee for the care of the adoptive parents.

² It may require a fee advance from adoptive parents.

³ The Federal Council fixes the tariff of emoluments.

¹ ... ¹

² The Federal Central Authority is entitled to use the channels of appeal of cantonal and federal law against the decisions of the cantonal central authorities.