Adoption

Adoption removes Parental Responsibility (PR) from the birth parents and gives it to the new or adoptive parents.

Definition

Adoption removes Parental Responsibility (PR) from the birth parents and gives it to the new or adoptive parents.

The child stops being the child of the birth parents and becomes the legal child of the adoptive parents. In reaching a decision on whether adoption is right for a child, the Court's paramount consideration must be the child's welfare throughout his/her life and it has to consider amongst other things:

1. the effect of the child on ceasing to be a member of the original family;
2. the child's relationship with its relatives;
3. the child's wishes and feelings if old enough to express them.

Step-parents

Step-parents can adopt their step-children. Written notice needs to be given to your Local Authority at least 3 months before a step-parent can make a court application for adoption.

For adoption and step-parent adoption, the Local Authority (also known as Social Services) investigates and prepares a report for the Court.

A CAFCASS officer will also be appointed to investigate and to make recommendations to the Court about the proposed adoption.