GOV.BW

• Adoption of a child is ordered by any magistrate court in the district in which the adopted child resides on the application of the adoptive parent(s). 
• The application must be accompanied by a report of a social welfare officer which gives background information on all the affected parents and further confirms that the adoptive parents are qualified to adopt the child.  This investigation and report by a social welfare officer can be requested at the Civil Registry at the Magistrate's Court.
• At the Magistrate's Court, applicants can submit their request papers and attach the required documentation (described below).

An appeal to the Court of Appeal may take two forms, namely;

• As of right-
• By special leave
• In order to lodge an appeal, a party  must serve  a notice of appeal  and file an  application for leave to appeal to the court of appeal with the court below (The high court or The  industrial court) within six weeks (Criminal Form 2).
• When leave is refused by the High Court , you file an application for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Form 3)
• The Appellant should file a date stamped Notice of Appeal to the Court of Appeal.
• A case is then registered and given a case number at the Court of Appeal.
• If the six weeks has  elapsed before lodging an appeal, the appellant should file  an application with the Court of Appeal seeking leave  to file out of time(Criminal Form 5).
• Only evidence used during the proceedings at court below can be used at the court of appeal. 

• The death of the person in question must be reported to the Masters office in the high court locations in either Gaborone or Francistown (addresses provided below) within 14 days of the death. 
• Once the death is registered, the individual's will is to be executed by the appointed individual from the next of kin meeting (the executor) or as per the will and presided over by Masters Office in the High Court.  
• The role of this executor is to work under the supervision of the Master of the high court to ensure that the terms of the deceased's will and the provisions of Administration of Estates Act [Cap 31:01] are complied with.

Before lodging a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman, a person should ideally go through the following steps, before moving to the next if dissatisfied.  

1. Raise verbal complaint with the official(s) involved.
2. Lodge official written complaint to the head of the applicable department.
3. Write complaint letter to the Director or Chief Executive.
4. Write complaint letter to the Permanent Secretary or any other officers responsible for the organization.

If still dissatisfied, a complainant can write an official letter of complaint to the Ombudsman, providing all the details of the matter, including the date and time of the occurrence, parties involved, complainant’s contact details inclusive of postal address, and steps taken since occurrence.  

Alternatively, the complainant may use the complaint form.  The letter or complainant form must be attached to copies of any relevant supporting documents which may be delivered in person at or faxed to the offices listed below, or emailed to ombudsman [at] gov.bw    

• Visit the nearest police station to complete an affidavit form where necessary or bring relevant documents which require the commissioning of oaths.
• Commissioner of Oaths shall verify the identity of the deponent by examining national identity (Omang) for citizens and a valid passport for non-citizens.