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Child Care Videos
Adoption
Date when Video was Published: 01/07/2017
Script for the above Video
Adoption is a way of providing a new family for children who cannot be brought up by their own parents for a number of reasons. It is a legal procedure in which all of the parental responsibility is taken away from birth parents and transferred to the adopters. The process can become quite complicated especially when dealing with interventional adoption and therefore it is imperative to seek legal advice at the onset.
In order to adopt you do have to satisfy certain criteria.
The first step in seeking to adopt a child is to apply to an adoption agency or via a local authority. After initial checks and registration is completed a formal assessment is undertaken and a detailed report is prepared by a social worker. This is presented to an adoption panel who make the final decision as to whether you would be approved as a prospective adopter.
The child will usually need to have been placed for 10 weeks after which a court application can be made seeking an Adoption Order. This will transfer all parental rights from the birth parents to adoptive parents. In some instances parents will not agree to adoption and in such circumstances the court can override their wishes. In many cases, the question of consent is usually dealt with by the court before a child is placed before adoption.
The criterion for international adoption is different. You can adopt a child from overseas if:
- they can’t 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
At Duncan Lewis we have a number of specialist lawyers who can assist in dealing adoption matters. Many of our experienced lawyers are members of the Law Society Children Panel.
To speak to one of our experienced lawyers please call on 0207 923 4020 or visit us at: www.duncanlewis.com. We look forward to hearing from you
Disclaimer
This video content was created on 01/07/2017 to provide an overview of the legal position and the information was correct at the time this video was created. This video has been produced for purposes of generic information and marketing purposes only. While the information on this site is about legal issues, it is not intended as legal advice or as a substitute for the particularised advice of your own legal advisor. Please consult one of our lawyers to provide you with advice and assistance on any matters touched on this video. Viewing of this video does not create legally binding advice and does not create a retainer with Duncan Lewis Solicitors.
This video is Copyrighted at Duncan Lewis Solicitors 2017. Any illegal reproduction of this content is prohibited and will result in immediate legal action.