Process description
Service requests
1. Ensure the possibility for a child to meet with a person in the institution, or to transfer the child temporarily to the care of such person in Latvia, if he or she has been granted the status of the guest family, or to transfer the child to the care of another person in a foreign state, if the relevant person has obtained an opinion in a foreign state that he or she conforms to the status of the guest family.
2. The Orphan's Court shall decide on the suitability of the spouse or person for performing the duties of the guest family and the granting of the status of the guest family. The status of the guest family shall be granted by the Orphan's Court of the spouses or person's place of residence
3. An Orphan's court shall decide on the termination of the status of the guest family if the guest family refuses to perform the duties of the guest family, or regarding the subtraction of the status of the guest family, if the Orphan's court determines that the guest family does not fulfil the duties of the guest family in accordance with the interests of the child.
4. A child in a child care institution who has reached the age of 12 may be temporarily transferred to other persons in the care of a foreign state if the child so wishes and if so agreed by the child care institution and the Orphan's Court, which has taken a decision on the out-of-family care of the child, has recognised that the transfer is in accordance with the best interests of the child and the person concerned will be able to provide adequate care for the child. In exceptional cases, a child in a childcare institution under 12 years of age may be temporarily transferred to the care of another person in a foreign country, provided that the child is transferred to other persons in a foreign state together with siblings, half-brothers and half-sisters, of which at least one has reached the age of 12.
The person must produce a personal identification document.
1. Documents necessary for obtaining the status of the guest family:
1.1. The submission of a person with a request to grant the status of the guest family and the reasons for obtaining the relevant status.
1.2. Documents supporting the references made in the application (copies presenting the original).
1.3. Statement of the state of health of the family doctor (original).
2. Transfer of a child who is in out-of-family care to another person temporarily in a foreign state:
Opinion of the competent authority for the protection of the rights of the child of the country concerned, which shall provide an assessment of the person's suitability and an attestation. The referred to documents shall be submitted to the Orphan's Court, accompanied by a notarised translation thereof in Latvian. A child's point of view.
An Orphan's court shall evaluate the suitability of a possible guest family for acquiring the status of a guest family, including, evaluating the motivation of a spouse or person to become a guest family, mutual relations in the family and the ability to care for a child, examining and evaluating the household and material conditions of the spouse or person, requesting an opinion of the family doctor regarding the health status of the spouse or person, sending the spouse or the spouse or person to a psychologist. in order to receive an opinion regarding the suitability for obtaining the status of the guest family, the information regarding the spouses or person in the register of penalties shall be requested.
An Orphan's court, in evaluating the suitability of a possible guest family for the status of a guest family, shall take a decision regarding the granting of the status of a guest family to a spouse or person or a refusal to grant the status of a guest family to a spouse or person.
If a person has been recognised as a guest family, the child care institution shall, in written agreement with the guest family, determine the length of the child's stay in the guest family, the rights and duties of the parties, as well as pay the child's subsistence allowance or allowance granted to the guest family in accordance with the period during which the child is in the care of another person.
The child care institution shall send a certified copy of the agreement entered into with the Orphan's Court of residence of the guest family.
The Orphan's Court shall ensure a regular examination of the living conditions of the child placed in the guest family.
The Orphan's Court, which has taken a decision regarding the granting of the status of the guest family, shall, at least once a year, evaluate the suitability of the guest family for the status of the guest family and ascertain whether the guest family may continue to perform the duties of the guest family.
Documents may be submitted in person, transmitted electronically (with a secure electronic signature) or by post.Receipt of services
The decision shall be taken at the meeting of the Orphan's Court and shall be notified to the parties.
The Orphan's Court shall draw up the decision in writing and send the transcript thereof to the participant in the administrative process within 10 working days after the taking of the decision. A true copy of the decision can also be received in person at the Riga Orphan's Court.
Similarly, a decision/reply can be sent to a person by post, to an e-mail address or to the electronically agreed portal for national and municipal services in www.latvija.gov.lv.