Early stages of adoption

To adopt a child you can go through either: an adoption agency that바카라 사이트檚 part of your local council a voluntary adoption agency The adoption process Contact an adoption agency - they바카라 사이트檒l send you information about the adoption process. The agency will arrange to meet you - you may also be invited to a meeting with other people wanting to adopt a child. If you and the agency agree to carry on, the agency will give you an application form. The adoption approval process normally takes around 6 months. You will then be matched with a child for adoption.

Once the agency gets your application it will do the following: Invite you to a series of preparation classes - these are normally held locally and give advice on the effect adoption may have on you. Arrange for a social worker to visit you on several occasions to carry out an assessment - this is to check you바카라 사이트檙e suitable to become an adoptive parent. Arrange a police check - you will not be allowed to adopt if you, or an adult member of your family, have been convicted of a serious offence, for example against a child. Ask you to provide the names of 3 referees who will give you a personal reference. One of your referees can be a relative. Arrange for you to have a full medical examination. If you want to adopt a child you바카라 사이트檝e been fostering, you still need to be assessed and approved as adoptive parents. Your assessment The social worker will send the assessment report to an independent adoption panel. This is a group of people who are experienced in adoption. The panel will make a recommendation to the adoption agency based on your assessment. You can go along to ask questions and answer any questions the panel has. The adoption panel will send their recommendation to the agency, which will then decide whether you바카라 사이트檙e suitable to adopt a child. If you can adopt a child Once your agency decides you can adopt, they바카라 사이트檒l begin the process of finding a child. The agency will explain how the process works and how you can be involved. If you live in Wales your agency can refer you to the National Adoption Service for Wales . This holds details of children across Wales who need adopting. If an adoption agency says you cannot adopt If you disagree with an adoption agency바카라 사이트檚 decision, you can either: challenge their decision by writing to them apply to the Independent Review Mechanism , which will look into your case You can also contact other adoption agencies - but you바카라 사이트檒l have to start the process again.

Applying for an adoption court order

To make an adoption legal, you need to apply for an adoption court order. This gives you parental rights and responsibilities for the child. How to apply If you want to adopt a child already living with you following a court placement order (known as 바카라 사이트榩ost-placement adoption바카라 사이트�), you can apply online.聽 You must apply by post for all other types of adoption such as: adopting a stepchild adopting a child from overseas adopting a child when you바카라 사이트檙e their special guardian adopting a child under the age of 6 weeks whose parents have asked for the adoption Fees The court charges a fee of 拢207 to process an application. If you apply for post-placement adoption online, you can pay by credit or debit card. If you apply by post, you can pay by credit or debit card, cash, cheque or by Bacs. If you바카라 사이트檙e adopting more than one child You바카라 사이트檒l need to complete a different application for each child. You바카라 사이트檒l only pay one fee if you submit: all the applications on the same day, using the same account online all the forms at the same time by post Apply online for a post-placement adoption The child must have lived with you for at least 10 weeks before you apply. You바카라 사이트檒l be asked for some personal details about:聽 yourself and your partner, if you have one the child including how long they바카라 사이트檝e been living with you Your application is only seen by the court and relevant adoption agencies or authorities. You will also be asked for information that is on the child바카라 사이트檚 placement order, for example: the name of the local authority who placed the child in your care the court which made the order the name of your social worker聽 the name of the child바카라 사이트檚 social worker If you do not have the placement order, your social worker or adoption agency will have this information. You can save your progress and return to your application.聽 Apply now Apply by post Most applications for adoption orders are done at a Family Court . You need to send the court a completed application for an adoption order - Form A58 . If you바카라 사이트檙e adopting a child when you바카라 사이트檙e their special guardian, they must have been living with you for at least 3 of the last 5 years. After you apply It can take up to 6 weeks before the court contacts you about a hearing date. You do not have to attend any hearings. When you바카라 사이트檙e granted the order Once the order has been granted: the adoption becomes permanent the child has the same rights as if they were your own birth child, for example the right of inheritance The order also takes away parental responsibility from: the child바카라 사이트檚 birth parent or parents anyone else who has parental responsibility for the child Getting an adoption certificate If your application is successful, the General Register Office will create an adoption certificate. This replaces the original birth certificate, and shows the child바카라 사이트檚 new name. If you want a copy of the new certificate you need to buy one - you will not get it automatically. A 바카라 사이트榝ull바카라 사이트� copy of the certificate costs 拢11. You can order: a certificate online a certificate by post You need the full version for most legal tasks for your child, for example getting a passport.

You need to tell your local council if you want to adopt your spouse바카라 사이트檚 or partner바카라 사이트檚 child. You must do this at least 3 months before applying to a court for an adoption order. The child must also have lived with both of you for at least 6 months. The adoption assessment The process to adopt is similar to an assessment through an adoption agency. The assessment is used to help a court decide if you can adopt the child (rather than being sent to an independent adoption panel). The court will ask your local council to provide a report on: your partner the child the other birth parent The report will be prepared by a social worker and will be used to help the court make a decision. If granted, the adoption court order gives you parental responsibility for the child - along with your spouse or partner. The order also takes away parental responsibility from: the child바카라 사이트檚 other birth parent anyone else who has parental responsibility for the child An adoption order cancels any other type of court order, such as how and when the child바카라 사이트檚 birth parent can visit the child.

Adopting a child from overseas

You can adopt a child from overseas if: they cannot be cared for in a safe environment in their own country the adoption would be in their best interests the adopter has been assessed as eligible and suitable to adopt from overseas by an adoption agency in the UK If you want to adopt a child from overseas, you should contact a UK adoption agency through: your local council in England and Wales a voluntary adoption agency that deals with overseas adoption There is a different process for overseas adoption in Scotland and overseas adoption in Northern Ireland . The adoption process is similar to a UK adoption and will be done by a UK adoption agency that may charge a fee. If you바카라 사이트檙e assessed and approved as suitable to adopt a child by a UK adoption agency, they will let you know what you need to do and guide you through these steps. Your application will be sent to the Department for Education ( DfE ) or your relevant UK Central Authority to check it meets eligibility criteria. DfE or your relevant UK Central Authority will issue a Certificate of Eligibility to Adopt and send it with your adoption application to the relevant overseas authority 바카라 사이트� some countries require adoption applications and supporting documentation is notarised, legalised and translated. Once matched, you need to visit the child in their own country and confirm in writing that you바카라 사이트檝e visited them and want to proceed with the adoption. You may need to go through adoption court processes in the country you바카라 사이트檙e adopting from and the UK. Once the placement has been finalised, you will need to arrange entry clearance for the child to enter the UK. Fees The DfE charges a non-refundable fee of 拢2,500 for processing an application to adopt a child from overseas. The fee is exempt from VAT. You바카라 사이트檒l be contacted by DfE about how to pay the fee once your application has been accepted. The fee includes case management but does not include legalisation, notarisation or translation costs. Contact the relevant authority to find out about fees and procedures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland . Restrictions The UK has restricted adoption from the following countries: Cambodia Guatemala Nepal Haiti Ethiopia Nigeria You can read about the reasons for the restrictions for each country. How to make an exception request If you want to adopt a child from a restricted country, you will need to set out the reasons in writing why your case is exceptional (for example, adopting a family member) and provide supporting evidence. Find out how to make an exception request to adopt a child from a country on the restricted list. You바카라 사이트檒l need to follow a different process for dealing with restricted countries in Scotland . Contact the Scottish 바카라 사이트 for enquiries about restrictions in Scotland. Scottish 바카라 사이트 intercountry adoption team intercountryadoption@gov.scot If you live or are normally resident in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands You must follow UK adoption law if you바카라 사이트檙e normally resident in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.聽 This is sometimes called 바카라 사이트榟abitual residence바카라 사이트� and can apply even if you바카라 사이트檙e living abroad at the time of the adoption. To be habitually resident, usually you (or your partner, if you바카라 사이트檙e a couple) must have a fixed and permanent home in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. If you바카라 사이트檙e unsure of your residence status, you should get independent legal advice before proceeding with an adoption. If you live abroad If you바카라 사이트檙e currently living abroad, the country you바카라 사이트檙e living in may ask for a 바카라 사이트榥o objection바카라 사이트� letter.聽 To get a no objection letter you may need to get a statement sworn in front of a solicitor. It will confirm that you바카라 사이트檙e not normally resident in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. For a limited number of countries you can apply online. For other countries, you should contact your nearest embassy or consulate 聽to apply for a no objection letter. Get a 바카라 사이트榥o objection바카라 사이트� letter online You can apply for a no objection letter online if you want to adopt a child from the following countries: India Spain Thailand United Arab Emirates Vietnam To apply online, you바카라 사이트檒l need: your UK passport your sworn statement a credit or debit card to pay a non-refundable fee of 拢50 If you바카라 사이트檙e adopting with a partner, you will need your partner바카라 사이트檚 UK passport and their sworn statement too. Apply now Moving to another country after adoption If you바카라 사이트檝e adopted a child 바카라 사이트� either in the UK or overseas - and then travel or move to a third country, the adoption may not be recognised in that country.聽 If you have any doubts you should get independent legal advice. Registering an adoption You can apply to register an overseas adoption in the Adopted Child Register for England and Wales if: the adoption took place in certain overseas countries the parent or parents were habitually resident in England and Wales at the time of the adoption the parent or parents can provide all the supporting documents You should read the guidance notes before filling in the form to register with the General Register Office ( GRO ).

Birth parents: your rights

For another couple (or person) to adopt your child, you normally have to agree to it. Once your child is adopted, you no longer have parental responsibility for them. Depending on the child바카라 사이트檚 situation, you may be able to stay in contact with them. This is often done using letters and photographs (and sometimes meetings) through the agency responsible for arranging the adoption. Fathers바카라 사이트� rights As the child바카라 사이트檚 father you바카라 사이트檒l be asked to agree to the adoption - but only if you have parental responsibility. If you were never married to the child바카라 사이트檚 mother or named on the birth certificate, you can apply to the court for a Parental Responsibility Order to get parental responsibility. Trying to stop the adoption process If the adoption process has started, you should get legal advice from a solicitor or Citizens Advice . To make an adoption legal, a court has to grant a court order. The agency arranging the adoption must let you know what your rights are - and also at what point the adoption cannot be stopped. If you do not want your child to be adopted, a court will give you the chance to say why. A social worker, independent of the adoption agency, will visit you and: record the reasons you do not want your child adopted let the court know these reasons - you can go to court to explain them An adoption order cannot be made unless the court thinks it바카라 사이트檚 in your child바카라 사이트檚 best interests. Adoption without your consent A court can decide the adoption can go ahead without your consent if: it thinks the child would be put at risk if they were not adopted - it will send you the evidence they have been given, for example from social services you바카라 사이트檙e incapable of giving consent, for example due to a mental disability

Child adoption

Overview

To be adopted, a child must:

be under the age of 18 when the adoption application is made
not be (or have never been) married or in a civil partnership

This guidance applies to England and Wales. There바카라 사이트檚聽different child adoption guidance if you:

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The child바카라 사이트檚 birth parents

Both birth parents normally have to agree (consent) to the adoption, unless:

they cannot be found
they바카라 사이트檙e incapable of giving consent, for example due to a mental disability
the child would be put at risk if they were not adopted

Who can adopt a child

You may be able to adopt a child if you바카라 사이트檙e aged 21 or over (there바카라 사이트檚 no upper age limit) and either:

single
married
in a civil partnership
an unmarried couple (same sex and opposite sex)
the partner of the child바카라 사이트檚 parent

There are different rules for private adoptions and adoptions of looked-after children.

Living in the UK

You do not have to be a British citizen to adopt a child, but:

you (or your partner, if you바카라 사이트檙e a couple) must have a fixed and permanent home in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
you (and your partner, if you바카라 사이트檙e a couple) must have lived in the UK for at least 1 year before you begin the application process

Adoption Support Fund

You may be able to get funding from the . It provides money for therapy for children and families to help improve relationships, confidence and behaviour. Your social worker can apply for you.

If you바카라 사이트檙e not happy with how the social worker has handled the application, complain to the council. If you바카라 사이트檙e not happy with the council바카라 사이트檚 response, contact the Adoption Support Fund team.

Adoption Support Fund team
asf@mottmac.com
01223 463 517

View a printable version of the whole guide

Child adoption

Overview

The child바카라 사이트檚 birth parents

Who can adopt a child

Living in the UK

Adoption Support Fund

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Child adoption

Overview

The child바카라 사이트檚 birth parents

Who can adopt a child

Living in the UK

Adoption Support Fund

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