Adoption Law

In the UK, for a child to be adopted, a court must issue an adoption order, which ends the legal relationship between the child and their birth parents and creates a new one with the adoptive parents. The child’s birth certificate is replaced with an adoption certificate, naming the adoptive parents.

Once the adoption order is issued:

• The adoptive parents gain full parental responsibility for the child, just as if the child had been born to them.
• The child is treated in law as if they were born to the adoptive parents, including rights to inheritance.
• The original birth certificate is no longer valid for legal purposes, and the adoption certificate becomes the primary legal document reflecting the child’s new identity and family status.

This Adoption process ensures that the adoption is permanent and that the child becomes a full member of the adoptive family.

Having the right legal expertise on your side is key to ensuring that you and your child are protected during the adoption process. Whether you’re exploring step-parent adoption, family adoption, or seeking advice as a foster carer considering adopting a foster child, professional guidance is crucial. Additionally, if Social Services has informed you that your child is being placed for adoption and a final adoption order hearing is imminent, it’s important to understand your rights and options.

It may be possible that after an Adoption Order is made, birth parents may be able to still have face-to-face meetings or send an annual letter to the child. This will be decided by a Judge on a case-by-case basis.

We can give you specific advice based on your circumstances and also assess whether you are eligible for Legal aid.

For advice on adoption, please contact our local offices in Gloucester or Stroud today. If you have a quick question or would like to request a callback, you can also use our quick online enquiry form.