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What is adoption?
Adoption is a way of providing a new family for a child when living with their own family is not possible. It is the means of giving a child an opportunity to start again; for many children, adoption may be their only chance of experiencing family life.
The adoption process
To be eligible for adoption the child must be under the age of 18 years and a child for whom returning home to their parents is not possible. Should the child be married or has been married they cannot be adopted.
An Adoption Order severs all legal ties with the birth family and confers parental rights and responsibilities on the new adoptive family. The birth parents no longer have any legal rights over the child and they are not entitled to claim them back. Your child becomes a full member of your family; they take your surname and assume the same rights and privileges as if they had been born to you, including the right of inheritance.
Bringing up a child is mutually rewarding and great fun, as well as being hard work and a big responsibility. This is especially so when you choose to bring up a child who was not born to you.
Who can adopt?
If you are over 21 years old and you can provide a permanent, stable and caring home, your application will be welcomed. It doesn't matter whether you are married or single, in or out of work, or whatever your race, religion, or sexuality. There is no upper age limit, and it does not matter if you have a disability. From January 2006 unmarried couples in England and Wales are now able to apply to adopt jointly.
The key question an adoption agency will ask is: can you provide a stable home for a child until adulthood and beyond? All sorts of people can and do make a success of adoption.
The new Adoption and Children Act 2002
The new Act, which came into force on 30 December 2005, brings the law on adoption up to date and puts the needs of the child above everything else. The changes in the law should improve the adoption service and help more people consider adoption.
The Act also introduced a new Special Guardianship order to provide a home for children who cannot return to their birth families but for whom adoption is not the most suitable option.
The leaflets below explain what the Act will mean for adoptive parents, including those who are currently in the process of adopting a child, and the new option of Special Guardianship.
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