Adoption orders at the family court in Lancashire
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-02
How this application works
An adoption order permanently transfers parental responsibility for a child to the adopters. The child must usually have lived with the applicants for the required period and be under 18. Applications are made on form A58, supported by the placement agency's reports and the child's guardian's evidence where one is appointed. Adoption cases are dealt with under the Adoption and Children Act 2002; the child's lifelong welfare is the court's paramount consideration. Kinship carers considering permanence should read the special guardianship page too — it is a different, less drastic legal route.
- Form: A58 — gov.uk
- Fee: No court fee (confirm current position on gov.uk)
- Where to file: Preston Combined Court Centre, The Law Courts, Openshaw Place, Ring Way, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2LL
- Our full guide to Preston Combined Court Centre
What happens after you file
1. File A58 with the placement evidence. 2. The court appoints a children's guardian (or reporting officer) to safeguard the child's interests. 3. A final adoption hearing is listed; the order, once made, is permanent.
Getting help in Lancashire
- Support services in Lancashire
- Finding a solicitor near Lancashire
- Finding a mediator near Lancashire
Related guides
General information only — not legal advice. Fees per SI 2026/642 (in force 13 July 2026); confirm the current fee on the gov.uk form page before filing. Source: gov.uk, HMCTS.
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.