Adoption orders — the court process, who can apply, and what it means

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29

What an adoption order does

An adoption order permanently transfers parental responsibility from the birth parents to the adopters. The child becomes legally the adopters' child — with a new birth certificate, inheritance rights, and no legal connection to the birth family (except via later contact arrangements, if agreed).

Who can apply

Adopters must be 21+, and either single, married, civil partners, cohabitants, or a relative/foster carer
Same-sex couples can adopt
The child must have lived with the adopters for at least 10 weeks before applying

The process

1. Choose an agency — local authority children's services or a voluntary adoption agency (e.g. Coram, Barnardo's) 2. Registration and preparation — checks (DBS, medical, references), training, home study 3. Approval — adoption panel recommends, agency decides 4. Matching and placement — a child is placed with you 5. Application to court — after at least 10 weeks of placement 6. Adoption order — the court decides based on the child's lifelong welfare

Birth parents' rights

Placement for adoption requires either birth parents' consent or the court dispensing with consent on welfare grounds (typically in care proceedings).

Parents can oppose adoption; legal aid is automatic for parents in care/adoption placement proceedings
Birth parents may seek contact post-adoption (via letterbox contact or, rarely, direct contact)

After adoption

The adopted adult (18+) can access birth records and use the Adoption Contact Register
Support (therapy, allowance) can continue — ask the agency for an adoption support assessment
The adoption is permanent — it cannot be revoked except in extremely rare circumstances (e.g. procedural error)

Official links

https://www.gov.uk/child-adoption
First4Adoption: 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.