We need information about legal adoption in the Philippines. I have reviewed the information available on the internet. Has anyone have any experience with the adoption steps and preparing a petition to the court? I understand that the petition must be filed with the Family/Civil court (presumably drafted and notarized by a lawyer). My wife was given J..., by her younger sister (the birth mother) when J... was a 2 month old infant, a child conceived with a married man with his own family. The biological mother had 3 other illegitimate children all older than J... who is now 10 years of age being loved and cared for by my wife since she was a 2 month infant (my wife has no other children). No support was ever received from the biological mother, who was given food support by me at various times. J... wants my wife, her auntie, to adopt her. I am Canadian and legally married to my wife in the Philippines. The adoption is necessary so we can get J... her passport, and then she can come to Canada with us. I understand that, currently under the new adoption laws, only a "blood" relative (my wife, her auntie) can get a legal adoption decree. Since we were married in the Philippines in 2012, then I also am included in the adoption decree. Bonus!