Adoption — the legal process, step by step
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-28
What adoption does
Adoption is the most complete legal change available: it permanently ends the legal relationship between a child and their birth parents (parental responsibility is extinguished) and creates a new legal parent-child relationship with the adopters. The child takes the adopters' name, inherits from them, and birth parents lose the right to know or object once the order is made.
Who can adopt
- Adopters must be 21+, and either single, married, civil partners, cohabitants, or the child's relative/foster carer
- Same-sex couples can adopt; there is no requirement to be a homeowner or wealthy
- Residence in the UK (or certain service postings) and good health sufficient for parenting
The process
1. Choose an agency — your local authority children's services or a voluntary adoption agency (e.g. Coram, Barnardo's) 2. Registration & preparation — checks: DBS, medicals, references, home study 3. Approval — an adoption panel recommends; the agency decides 4. Matching & placement — a child is placed with you (child usually lives with you before the order) 5. Application to court — the child must normally have lived with you for at least 10 weeks before you apply for the adoption order 6. Adoption order hearing — the court makes the order if it meets the child's lifelong welfare needs (the child's welfare is the paramount consideration)
Birth parents' rights
Placement for adoption requires either birth parents' consent or the court dispensing with consent (welfare grounds — e.g. care proceedings where the court finds parents cannot safely parent). Parents can oppose; legal aid is automatic for parents in care/adoption placement proceedings.
Post-adoption
Adoption records: adopted adults (18+) can access birth records information and use the Adoption Contact Register. Support (therapy, allowance) can continue after the order — ask the adoption agency for the adoption support assessment.
Official links
- https://www.gov.uk/child-adoption
- First4Adoption (England information service): https://www.first4adoption.org.uk
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS or gov.uk.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.