Adoption Law: A Practical Guide

Adoption Law: A Practical Guide

Pearce, Nasreen

Wildy, Simmonds and Hill Publishing

03/2025

372

Dura

9780854903085

Pré-lançamento - envio 15 a 20 dias após a sua edição

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Preface


Table of Cases


Table of Statutes


Table of Statutory Instruments


Table of European and International Material


Table of Statutory Guidance, etc


Table of Judicial Practice Directions and Guidance


List of Abbreviations







1 Introduction


2 Who May Adopt?


People who may adopt


Adoption by a couple


Definition of 'a couple'


Marriage or civil partnership


Enduring family relationships


Age


Domicile/habitual residence


Domicile of origin


Domicile of choice


Habitual residence


Losing and acquiring habitual residence


Adoption by a step-parent


Factors to be taken into account


Alternatives to adoption


Some important factors for consideration for opting for an adoption order


Sole applicant


Conditions that must be satisfied


Parent as a sole applicant


Adoption by relatives


Restrictions on making adoption order


3 The Child


Statutory requirements


Age


Child is aged 18 or over at the final hearing


Presence in England and Wales


Home with the prospective adopter(s)


Time limits


Permission for the application to be made after a shorter period


Had his home with the applicant


Opportunities to see the child and the prospective adopter(s) at home


4 Placement for Adoption and Placement Orders


Introduction


By whom and when may a child be placed for adoption?


Placing children with parental consent


Child under six weeks old


Consent


Meaning of consent


Advance consent for the child to be adopted


Consent in relation to a child less than six weeks old


Counselling


Obtaining consent


Consequences of consent to placement for adoption


Withdrawal of consent


Consequence of withdrawal of consent - return of the child


Dispensing with consent


Prohibition on removal from placement


Removal by an adoption agency


Return/removal of a child in an emergency


Removal from consensual placement under ACA 2002, s 19


Removal after placement order


Restrictions on removal in pending proceedings


From foster parents


From partners of parents


From non-agency placement


In any other non-agency case


Breach of restrictions on removal - recovery orders


When and by whom can a breach be enforced?


Orders the court is empowered to make


Review of child's case


Procedure for application for a recovery order


Form of application


Who should be made respondents?


Procedure following issue of proceedings


Placement under a placement order


Grounds for applying for a placement order


Requirement for local authority to apply for a placement order


Material that must be considered by agency decision maker


Criteria that must be applied


Placement order application procedure


Overriding objective


Case management duties and powers


Venue gatekeeping and allocation


Transfer of proceedings to another court


Starting proceedings - placement order


The application


Request for dispensing with consent


Who should be made respondents?


Documents that must be filed with Form A50


Steps the court will take


Service


First directions hearing


Disclosure of confidential reports


Proof of the child's identity


Reports by adoption agency or local authority


Final hearing


Placement order - form of order


Duration


Consequences of a placement order


Revocation of a placement order


Who may apply for revocation of a placement order?


What constitutes change of circumstances?


When is a child said to be placed for adoption?


How does the court exercise its discretion whether or not to grant permission?


Revocation of placement order procedure


Form of application


Who should be made a respondent?


Venue


Variation of a placement order


Form of application


Who should be made a respondent?


Who should be served?


Venue


Power to grant injunction


Application for a child's name to be changed


How to make the application


Who may apply?


Who should be the respondents?


Service


Removal of a child from the United Kingdom


5 Conditions for Making an Adoption Order


Introduction


The first condition - parental consent


Who is a parent?


Father without parental responsibility


Guardian of the child


The second condition - placements and placement orders


Permission to oppose an adoption order


Dispensing with consent


The third condition - Scottish and Northern Irish permanence/freeing order


Other requirements


6 Dispensing with Parental Consent


Grounds for dispensing with consent


When will it be necessary to apply for dispensation of parental consent?


How is the application for dispensation made?


What criteria will the court apply in determining dispensing with consent?


Parent or guardian cannot be found


Lacks capacity to give consent within the meaning of the MCA 2005


Incapacity within the meaning of the MCA 2005


When is a person unable to make a decision?


How should inability to make decisions be assessed?


What are the principles that apply when considering whether a person lacks capacity?


How can an incapacitous person be assisted?


The child's welfare


Paramount consideration


Child's welfare requires consent to be dispensed with


Guidance on the approach to be adopted


Procedure for dispensing with consent


7 Criteria to Be Applied - Welfare Must Be the Paramount Consideration


Introduction


Criteria to be applied to welfare consideration


The child's wishes and feelings


The child's particular needs


The likely effect on the child throughout his life


Age, sex, background and any relevant characteristics


Harm the child has suffered or is at risk of suffering


The child's relationship with relatives and others


The child's relationship with others


Religious, racial, cultural and linguistic issues


Delay


The no order principle


Range of powers


8 Post-placement and Post-adoption Contact


Introduction


Contact post-placement order


Variation or revocation of contact order under ACA 2002, s 26


Adoption agency's power to disallow contact


Procedure for making an application for contact under ACA 2002, s 26


Who may apply?


How should an application be made?


Who should be made a respondent to the proceedings?


Procedure for variation or revocation of contact order under ACA 2002, s 26


Who may apply?


How should an application be made?


Who should be made a respondent?


Venue


Post-adoption contact


General


Post-adoption contact where the child is placed by an adoption agency


What orders may the court make?


Who are the person(s) who may be named in the order?


Who may make an application for post-adoption order?


Factors that the court must consider on an application for permission to apply for an order under ACA 2002,

s 51A


The court's approach to an application for permission


How to make the application for permission under ACA 2002, s 51A


Post-adoption contact where the child is not placed by an adoption agency


Variation and revocation of contact order


How should the application be made?


9 Adoption Order Application - Procedure


Introduction


Starting proceedings


Who may apply?


Who may be adopted?


Form of application


Documents to be filed with Form A58


Who should be made respondents?


Steps to be taken by the court when the application is issued


First directions hearing


Requesting the court to dispense with parental consent


Reports by adoption agency/local authority


Disclosure of confidential reports


The final hearing


Permission to oppose an adoption application


Service of copies of orders


Custody of documents


Disclosing information to an adopted adult


How to make the request for information


Communication of information relating to proceedings


Meaning of 'professional legal adviser'


Meaning of 'professional acting in furtherance of the protection of children'


10 Amendment, Revocation and Setting Aside of an Adoption Order


Amendments


Revocation and setting aside an adoption order


Setting aside an adoption order


Practice and procedure


Cancellation


11 Consequences of Adoption


Introduction


Meaning of Adoption under ACA 2002, Ch 4


Parental rights and duties


Status conferred by adoption


Adoptive relatives


Prohibited degree of relationship


Nationality and immigration


Change of name


State benefits


Insurance


Pension


Rules of interpretation


Property devolving with peerage


Trustees and personal representatives


Testamentary rights


12 Adoptions with a Foreign Element


Introduction


The UNCRC


The 1993 Hague Convention


Objectives of the 1993 Hague Convention


Preconditions for adoption within the 1993 Hague Convention


Obligations of contracting states


Accredited bodies


Non-accredited bodies


Procedural requirements


The receiving state


The state of origin


Duty to protect the child


Confidentiality, disclosure and preservation of documents


Prohibition of payments


Delay


Domestic law


Duties of local authorities and adoption agencies


Types of adoptions with a foreign element


13 Convention Adoptions


Introduction


Child entering England and Wales where the United Kingdom is a receiving state


Age and residency requirement


Application


Counselling and provision of information


Assessment of eligibility and suitability


The agency's decision and notification


Procedure following decision on suitability


The role of the Central Authority


The matching process


The adoption agency's role following the 1993 Hague Convention, Art 16 report


Procedure to be followed by the Central Authority


Instances when proposed adoption may not proceed


Procedure following the 1993 Hague Convention, Art 17(c) agreement


Convention adoption not made before entry


Prospective adopter(s) unable to proceed


Breakdown of placement


Modification of status of adopted child for 1993 Hague Convention adoptions


Registration of Convention adoption


Application for Convention adoption order


How to apply for a Convention adoption order


Procedure on making of a Convention adoption order


Refusal, withdrawal or annulment of Convention Adoption


Requirements where the United Kingdom is the state of origin


Counselling and information for the child


Counselling and information for the parent, guardian and others


Permanence report and panel's recommendation


Role of the relevant UK CA


Proposed placement and referral to the adoption panel


Precondition for placement


Local authority's report


Parental Responsibility Order under ACA 2002, s 84


Conditions that must be met


How to make the application


Consequence of removal of a child from the United Kingdom without a parental responsibility order


14 Overseas Adoptions


Introduction


Registration in the United Kingdom of overseas adoption


Entry to the United Kingdom


Annulment of an overseas adoption


Grounds for the application


Procedure for application for annulment


Parties to the application


Timing of the application


Which court?


First directions hearing


Taking children out of the United Kingdom for adoption


Restrictions


Preconditions for removing a child from the United Kingdom


Procedure


Recognition under common law


Procedure


Appendix - List of the 87 designated overseas countries


15 Intercountry Adoptions - Other than Convention Adoptions/'Overseas Adoptions'


Introduction


Restrictions on bringing children into the United Kingdom


Exceptions to suspension


What the prospective adopter(s) must do to apply for exceptional treatment


Requirements for bringing children into the United Kingdom


Application


The agency's decision and notification


Referral of case to the department


Role of the appropriate department


Fees for services provided by local authority/adoption agency


Further requirements before the child is brought into the United Kingdom


Procedure following arrival in the United Kingdom


What the prospective adopter(s) must do


What the local authority must do


Application for adoption


Application for adoption not made


Consequences of placement


Change of name


Return of the child


Consequences of failure to return the child


Effect of notice to return the child if proceedings are pending


Requirement for child to live with prospective adopters


16 Adoption Agencies


Introduction


The adoption panel


Constituting an adoption panel


Meetings/composition of adoption panel


Term of office


Resignation and termination of office


Functions of the adoption panel


Deciding whether a child should be placed for adoption


Outline


The child's case record


Counselling, etc for the child


Counselling, etc for the parent(s) or guardian and others


Notification of fathers and relatives


Steps to be taken when a child is placed for adoption on the basis that the child's father or extended family are not notified


Information about the child


Information about the child's family


The permanence report


The adoption panel's decision


Documents to be sent to the panel


The role of the adoption panel


Adoption agency's decision


Summary of process for deciding whether a child is to be placed for adoption


Assessing and approving prospective adopter(s)


Counselling and information


Preparation for adoption


The prospective adopter's/adopters' case record


Police checks


Further information


Prospective adopter(s)' report


Matters to be taken into account


Prospective adopter(s)' report


Procedure where a prospective adopter is considered unsuitable to adopt


Function of the adoption panel


Determining suitability to adopt


Notification to prospective adopter(s)


Independent review of qualifying determination


Independent review panel


Processing an application for review


Procedure to be followed by the adoption agency


Appointment of the panel and conduct of review


Who may attend before the independent review panel?


Procedure of the independent review panel


Recommendation of the independent review panel


Review of approval


Termination of approval


Matching and approval of placements


The proposed placement


Assessment of needs and preparation of the adoption placement report


Referral to the adoption panel


Functions of the adoption panel in relation to a proposed placement


The adoption agency's decision


Placement and reviews


Procedure to be followed before placement


Reviews


Matters to be considered on review


Notification of review


Independent reviewing officer


Appointment of an independent reviewing officer


Qualification of the independent reviewing officer


Functions of the independent reviewing officers


Contact


The Adoption and Children Act register


Procedure for applying for directions on notification to fathers and relatives


Venue


First initial directions hearing


Case management


17 Intermediary Services for Persons Adopted before 30 December 2005


Introduction


Who can provide intermediary services?


Services to be provided


Procedure on receipt of the application


Restriction on proceeding with an application from a relative for assistance


Discretion whether or not to proceed


Consent to disclosure


Veto by the adopted person


Counselling


Sources of information


Contacting the appropriate adoption agency


The Registrar General


The court


Disclosure


Fees


Offence


18 Adoption Support Services and Agencies


Introduction


Statutory obligations on maintenance of support services


Meaning of adoption support services


Persons to whom adoption support services are provided


Counselling, advice and information


Financial support


Services to enable discussion


Contact


Therapeutic services


Services to ensure continuance of relationship and to assist in case of disruption of relationships


Duty to provide information


To whom should information set out in ACA 2002, s 4B be provided?


What is the specified information which should be provided?


Prescribed information required to be provided under regulation


Circumstances in which information need not be provided


Adoption Support Service Adviser


Services for persons outside the area


Financial support


Circumstances in which financial support is payable


Remuneration for former foster parent


Payment of financial support


Cessation of financial support


Conditions attached to financial support


Termination and suspension of payment


Assessment for financial support


Request for assessment


Matters to be taken into consideration on assessment


Interview and report


Referrals to other agencies


The plan


Preparation of the plan


Notice of assessment


Notice of decision


Reviews


Services other than financial support


Financial support paid periodically


Recovery of expenses between local authorities


Fees


Adoption support agencies


Statutory framework


The prescribed adoption support services


Providers of services who are excepted as adoption support agencies


Fitness of the registered provider


The responsible individual


The registered manager


Training and standards of work


Statement of purpose and children's guide


Statement of purpose


The children's guide


Review


Arrangements for the protection of children


Records


Complaints


Staff


Fitness


Employing staff


Disciplinary procedure


Records of staff


Finances and accounts


Notices to the registration authority


Notice of absence


Notice of changes


Notification of conviction


Notices to the relevant authority


Fees


19 The Registers


Introduction


The Adopted Children Register


Role of the Registrar General


Disclosure to a person adopted before the ACA 2002


Disclosure to a person adopted after the ACA 2002


The registration of adoption orders


The registration of Convention and overseas adoptions


The applicant(s)


Form of application


The Adoption Contact Register


The two parts of the Adoption Contact Register


20 The Disclosure of Information


Introduction


Information to be kept by adoption agencies


General Data Protection Regulation


Transfer of information


Permitted general disclosure


Discretionary disclosure


Disclosure in pursuance of agreement


Mandatory disclosure for purposes of inquiries, etc


Disclosure to an adopted adult


Withholding of information on the ground of exceptional circumstances


Information from the court


Disclosure of protected information about adults


Who may apply for protected information about adults?


Manner in which the application should be made


Steps the agency should take and factors it must apply when making its decision


Reasons for decision taken


Independent review


Disclosure of protected information about children


Steps the agency must take on receipt of the application


Factors the agency must consider


Counselling


Provision of counselling


Disclosure of information for counselling


Confidential information


Serial number


Reports filed in the proceedings


Proceedings heard in private


Documents held by the court


Access to information held by the court







Index
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law of adoption; adoption legal issues; legal guidance adoption; adopting child law