Adopting a child from the UK

Adoption is the legal process which transfers parental rights and responsibilities from a child’s birth parents to their adoptive parents. This is done through an adoption order made by the family court. Once made, an adoption order is final and cannot be overturned.

Typically, a child’s birth parents must consent to the adoption, unless they either cannot be found or give consent (e.g. due to mental disability), or if the child would be put at risk if they were not adored.

To adopt a child in the UK, you must be at least 21 years old. There is no upper age limit, but your ability to care for the child until they reach adulthood will be considered. Furthermore, you (and if you’re part of a couple, your partner) must have lived in the UK for at least 1 year, and have a fixed address in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

To begin the adoption process, you can either go through an adoption agency which is part of your local council or a voluntary adoption agency. The adoption process is quite lengthy, with various steps that prospective parents must go through. In general, the process looks something like this:

• Assessment period – to adopt a child you must be assessed to ensure that you meet certain criteria and requirements.
• Approval to adopt – once the assessment is complete, the agency adoption panel will provide a recommendation as to whether your application should be approved or not
• Matching you with a child – if you have not applied to adopt a particular child, the agency will then seek to match you with a child
• Applying for an adoption order – to adopt a child, the final step is to apply to the court for an adoption order. The court’s main consideration will be the child’s welfare and best interests.

Our adoption law specialists are well-accustomed to this process and will ensure that you are aware of any complexities or legal issues which could arise.

Is Vardags right for you?

Since our founding in 2005, we have worked at the cutting-edge of family law, acting in some of the most high-profile cases in recent times. We have earned a global reputation for being one of the best family law firms in the UK, having been described as ‘the Rolls Royce and the Ferrari of the family law world’.

We achieve the results our clients need by adopting an innovative, solution-driven approach that sets us apart from other law firms. We are known for our fearless style, with the Legal 500 commending our ability to ‘take on unwinnable cases and win…fight the unfightable and succeed’.

At Vardags, we will guide you through every stage of the process and help make it as smooth as possible. If you think you need our help, don’t delay. Contact Vardags today.

We are ready to help

We provide a free initial consultation to suitable clients, where our team will take their time to understand the issues of your case and help you determine the next best move. Our clients typically have an income over £300,000 per annum or savings of over £100,000.