Family
Adoption
There is nothing more magical than welcoming a new child into your family and our goal is to make the process as smooth as possible.
There are many families looking to provide children with a stable and happy upbringing by adoption. However, the adoption process can be drawn out and complicated. That’s where experienced and specialist adoption lawyers can really help.
The adoption legal advice we offer will prepare you for every eventuality, providing clear, honest, and straightforward guidance throughout the process, giving you the very best chance of success.
Who can adopt?
Anyone over the age of 21 is eligible to adopt, as long as they can provide a permanent, stable, caring and loving environment for a child.
The best interests of the child are paramount in every adoption case, which is why an extremely thorough assessment is carried out of every prospective parent to ensure their suitability.
The adoption process in England and Wales
From initial interest to welcoming a child into your home, the whole adoption process can be quite complex. We break it down here.
Enquiry and eligibility – At this stage, you’ll be learning more about what to expect, and filling out an application so your eligibility can be assessed. Our lawyers can provide adoption legal advice to make sure you’re clear on what obligations you’re signing up for, and to pre-empt any eligibility concerns.
Application assessment – Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive several visits from a social worker who will get to know you and your household. Parallel to this, they’ll also gather references and medical checks, so they can put everything in a report and take it to your local adoption panel, who will make the final call.
Finding a placement – If you’ve been approved, you’ll then work with the adoption agency on finding the perfect match for you. Normally, this involves arranging for a placement where the child’s needs align with what care and support you’re able to offer.
Adoption order – Following gradual introductions, and the child moving into your home, they would need to live with you for a minimum of 10 weeks before your adoption solicitor can submit a legal court petition. Typically, it would be another six to eight weeks before you have a court hearing, where your adoption order can be granted.
Contact provisions – When an adoption order receives approval from the court, the child’s birth parents lose their parental responsibility. Depending on the child’s best interests, sometimes, arrangements might be made for further contact; in these cases, it’s best to seek further legal advice on any agreement.
Types of adoption we offer legal advice on
Our adoption lawyer team offers specialist support for various adoption types, including
- Fostering for adoption: We can provide advice for foster carers who are looking to adopt the children placed with them for fostering.
- Kinship adoption: Although the adoption process tends to be more streamlined when adopting a partner’s child (or that of a relative, under some scenarios), our adoption solicitors can help you navigate the court petition process.
- Domestic adoption: Following the typical adoption process outlined above, our adoption solicitors will guide you through applying with your local authority or an agency, the consecutive assessment, monitored placement, and the final court hearing.
- Intercountry adoption: Our expert adoption lawyers can also assist with foreign adoption orders, from helping you ensure Home Office immigration requirements are met to following the steps of Hague Convention safety procedures.
Why choose our adoption legal team?
Our team of adoption solicitors specialises in guiding you through every step of your journey with expert, accessible adoption legal advice and a supportive approach to this big life event.
Whether this is your first time exploring adoption options, or you have a particularly complex case on your hands, you’ll be paired with a designated adoption lawyer who can identify situations which may cause problems before they arise, helping to reduce the stress and remove any stumbling blocks from the adoption process.
With an in-depth understanding of your unique case, your adoption solicitor will work to ensure the rights and welfare of both you and the child are protected during the proceedings. After all, an informed approach can go a long way to securing a positive outcome!
Our adoption services
The services of our adoption solicitor team cover all stages of the process – from preparing your application and pulling together all the necessary documents, to working together with social services and adoption agencies.
They will also provide expert adoption legal advice on issues such as eligibility, panel hearings, and court hearings for your official adoption order. What’s more, their robust knowledge of the area will allow them to support you should any problems arise, whether that’s welfare concerns, delays, or contested court petitions.
FAQs
How long does adoption take?
For domestic cases, adopting through an agency normally takes between six and 18 months. If you’re dealing with a more complicated case (e.g. adopting a newborn or adopting a child from overseas) adoption can take several years.
How much does adoption cost?
This depends on where you’re adopting from – local authorities normally charge a small fee (or no fee), while private agencies and international adoptions might have higher costs (including travel and Home Office fees). There will be costs associated with the court proceedings, too, which will vary depending on the complexity of your situation.
What assessments are required for adoption?
As part of your application, the adoption panel will gather references, as well as medical and DBS checks. Alongside this, a social worker will conduct several home visits to assess your household’s suitability.
Can single people adopt?
Yes – prospective single parents go through the same assessment process as partners, though an additional emphasis might be given on ensuring you have a robust support network.
What happens if the adoption is contested?
If your court petition is contested, for example by birth parents, your adoption lawyer team will support you with legal advice on the appeal and review process, guiding you through each step of the hearings.
