ADOPTION LAW REVIEW: DISCUSSION PAPER 3 THE ADOPTION PROCESS CONTENTS Para. Page PART 1 : INTRODUCTION 1 1 Historical background Monitoring and research T 1 5 5 Statistics 7 6 TChoenclCuhsiilodnren Act 1989 14 10 T5 11 PART 2: WHO MAY ARRANGE ADOPTIONS AND WHO MAY APPLY TO ADOPT? 16 12 Prohibition on non-agency placements and adoption 19 13 ANpopnl-iacgaetnicoynsapbpylicsatteipo-npsarebnytsnona-nrdeloatthievresrelatives 2206 1184 PART 3: ELIGIBILITY AND SUITABILITY 34 21 Children 34 21 Adopters 35 21 PART 4: WHAT SERVICES ARE NEEDED IN CONNECTION WITH ADOPTION? 59 31 Services for children 62 32 Services for birth parents and other relatives 68 35 Services for adoptive parents and those who are interested in becoming adoptive parents 77 39 Post-adoption services 84 43 * PART 5: WHO SHOULD PROVIDE THE SERVICES? 100 51 PART 6: THE APPROVAL OF ADOPTION SOCIETIES 107 55 PART 7: ADOPTION PROCEDURES 121 60 Adoption panels 121 60 Duties of adoption agencies and local authorities where an application for an adoption order is pending 126 62 Qualifying period before an. adoption order Cocmanplbaeintmsade 139 68 145 70 PART 8: PREVENTION OF REMOVAL OF CHILDREN AWAITING ADOPTION 146 71 Restrictions on removal where agreement Rehasstribceteinongsiveonn removal where parent has not 147 71 Recsotnrsiecnttieodnstoonfrereeimonvgal where applicant has 143 72 provided home for five years 150 73 i PrintedimagedigitisedbytheUniversityofSouthamptonLibraryDigitisationUnit 11 Para. Pace PART 9: CRIMINAL OFFENCES 156 78 PPraiyvmaetnetsplacements I15597 7798 Conclusion 162 81 PART 10: RECORDS: CONFIDENTIALITY AND ACCESS 163 82 Adoption agency and other records 163 82 Court records and reports 174 85 PART 11: JURISDICTION AND ORDERS 181 88 General jurisdiction of the courts 181 88 Particular jurisdiction 184 90 ARpepfeuaslasl of an order I19953 9956 Interim orders 196 97 PART 12: COURT PROCEDURE 200 100 Parties to the proceedings 200 100 Guardians ad litem 209 106 SSpelriitalprnoucmebeedrinagpspliicnatcioonntsested cases 221179 11 02 PART 13: ADOPTION AS A JUDICIAL PROCESS 222 114 PART 14: COURT APPROVAL OF PLACEMENT 230 119 The Children Act 1989 237 121 Conclusion 238 121 ii PrintedimagedigitisedbytheUniversityofSouthamptonLibraryDigitisationUnit