| To apply to adopt a child you must be over 21 years | | | | governing principle will be what is in the child's best |
| of age and the child must be under 18 years. if you | | | | interest. |
| are applying with somebody else as a joint application | | | | Should the child's existing parent or guardian not |
| you will have to be married or in a civil partnership. If | | | | agree to the adoption the court will appoint a |
| you are not married only one person can adopt. | | | | guardian to protect the child's best interest. The |
| Very often the adoption will be carried out through | | | | child's guardian will make a report to the court |
| an adoption agency. They will arrange for a social | | | | advising on what will be in the child's best interest and |
| worker to visit you and make a home study | | | | will represent the child in court. In most cases the |
| assessment of your family. They will take references | | | | local authority or adoption agency will be asked to |
| and check out your medical records. After this initial | | | | prepare a report for the court which will include |
| assessment an adoption panel will make a | | | | details about both the child and your family. |
| recommendation as to whether you would be | | | | About four weeks after you have lodged your |
| suitable adoptive parents. If you are approved the | | | | application for adoption with the court a first |
| process of matching a child to your family will begin. | | | | directions hearing will be fixed. At this hearing the |
| Where an adoption agency is not being used the local | | | | judge will consider amongst other things whether the |
| social services department of the county council | | | | application is procedurally correct, whether all |
| must be informed not less than three months before | | | | necessary documentation is in place, and will fix a |
| making the application to the court. In most cases | | | | timetable for further consideration of your application. |
| your application to the court to adopt a child will be | | | | All legal ties between the child and his or her birth |
| dealt with by a specialised adoption centre. These are | | | | family are brought to an end on the making of the |
| courts which have specialist judges and adoption | | | | order and transferred to the adoptive parents. Once |
| officers with special training and experience in the | | | | the adoption order has been made it will be final and |
| adoption process. | | | | cannot be set aside even should the reason for the |
| When considering your application the judge will have | | | | adoption turn out to be unfounded. There have been |
| a number of options. Very often a reporting officer | | | | cases where allegations against the birth family have |
| will be appointed. If the current parent or guardian of | | | | been found to be wrong after an adoption has taken |
| the child agrees to the adoption a report will be | | | | place. Notwithstanding this the adoption could not be |
| prepared by the reporting officer to help and assist | | | | set aside. |
| the court. As in all matters concerning children the | | | | |