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adoption

Last modified: Thu Feb 23 16:37:37 2006

Under English law (AdoptionAct1976; ChildrenAct1989), an adoption order anulls all rights and responsibilities of a child's original parents, and vests them in the adopters. The child is then deemed to be the legitimate (see: Legitimacy) child of the adopters; he or she has the same rights of inheritance as any natural children the adopters may have. Any person under the age of 18 is elligible for adoption, but in practice most adoptions are of young children.

Adoption of female children is subject to the same regulations as for males, with the exception that a single man may not adopt a girl. Otherwise, a married couple -- domiciled in the UK (see: Domicile) -- may apply to adopt jointly, and anyone to adopt singly, subject to the following requirements:

• at least one adopter is 25 years of age, or
• at least one adopter is over 21 years of age and related to the adoptee, or
• one adopter is a parent of the child. This last point deals with adoption of an illegitimate child by a parent and someone else.

Note that adoption by married couples is the only form of joint adoption allowed in English law.

Adoption orders can be granted by most civil courts. Normally the order will be granted if:

• the court is satsifed that the adopters are suitable, and
• the natural parents consent, or their consent can be dispensed with (if, for example, they have abandonned or neglected the child), and
• the spouse of a sole adopter consents.

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