New Adoption Laws

New Adoption Act

The new Adoption and Children Act 2002.

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NOTE: This information explains the terms and some

general principles relating to Child Protection proceedings.

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seek the professional assistance of a Solicitor.

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The new Adoption and Children Act 2002.

This is the first major revision of adoption legislation since 1976. Although the Act was given Royal assent in November 2002, the majority of the Acts provision is being introduced on December 30th 2005.

The new Act applies to England and Wales only.

Features of the new law include:-

	Bringing adoption law into line with the Children act 1989
	Placing the needs and welfare of the child at the centre of the adoption process
	Highlights the need to avoid delays for children needing adoption.
	The Act introduces a new Special Guardianship Order that is a new permanence option that stops short of some aspects of full adoption
	Allows unmarried and same sex couples to apply jointly to adopt
	Makes provision for continuing support to the adoptive family after the adoption of a child/ren until their adulthood.
	The Adoption and Children Act 2002 provides both Adopted Adults and their birth relatives with the right to request a regulated intermediary service.

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.

	Download a guide to adopting a child - new changes in the law (PDF, 384K)
	Download a guide to special guardianship - a new option for children needing permanent families (PDF, 554K)
	Download a guide to transitional arrangements as the new law comes into force (PDF, 492K)
	Help with PDF files

New Adoption Act

Exposing the truth to fight Injustice in Family Law

Last modified: Wednesday December 26, 2007

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