Subjects:

Family Law

Contents:

Part 1

Background to the Adoption and Children Act: adoption - the historical perspective

the need for reform.

Part 2

Adoptions within the UK: welfare of the child

consent to adoption

placement for adoption

the making of adoption orders

post-adoption contact

access to information and confidentiality

adoption societies.

Part 3

International adoptions: international adoptions

inter-country adoptions

recognition of adoptions

illegal placements

transfers and transactions

practice and procedure.

The forthcoming Adoption and Children Act 2002 is aimed to promote the wider use of adoption, to improve performance of the adoption services and to place the needs of children at the centre of the adoption process. The Act will also reform the need for parental consent to adoption. This work explains the new legislation and sets it in the context of adoption law. It also provides a comprehensive analysis of the law and practice in respect of inter-country adoptions.

Questions that are answered include: how will the principle that the welfare of the child is paramount affect adoption decision making?; what new duties will local authorities have with regards to adoption?; what are the new measures for placement for adoption and consent and placement orders?; and what is a special guardianship order?