Putting a child up for adoption

What does it mean if my child is adopted?

If you want your child adopted by another family permanently, you will no longer have any legal rights over them. You will not be entitled to see the child again or claim them back. This means that you need to think very carefully about the decision you make.

If you have any worries, doubts or questions, we are here to help you all we can. You might find it helpful to talk things over with your family and friends, or to consult someone like your doctor, clergyman or solicitor.

What information do I need to give?

Before we can arrange an adoption, we are required by law to ask for a lot of information about you and your child. This is so that we have the fullest possible picture for your child’s new parents. Over the years, your child will want to know about their origins.

You can help by telling us as much as you can about yourself and your family including any particular religious or cultural upbringing that you want your child to have, or opportunity to develop any special interest such as a talent for singing. We cannot always promise to do as you wish but we do take your wishes into account and do our very best to meet them.

How do you find a new family?

We are required by law to make very thorough enquiries about adopters, and to ask them for information about themselves and their background. We have to be certain they will be able to meet your child's needs. We are not allowed to place the child for adoption without first considering whether that will be in their long-term interests.

Sometimes foster parents want to adopt the child they have been looking after and we make the same thorough enquiries about foster parents as we would about any other prospective adopters.

How do I place my child for adoption?

If you are willing for your child to be adopted, you have two options:

• wait until we have found a suitable family before agreeing to the adoption
• if you want things settled more quickly, ask us to consider ‘freeing’ your child for adoption by taking them into our care while a family is found. This procedure lets you agree at an early stage to your child's eventual adoption, usually before a family has been found.

Once you have agreed to your child being adopted, the court will ask an independent social worker (known as a reporting officer) to visit you. The reporting officer will need to be sure that you are willing to agree to your child's adoption without any conditions.

If they are satisfied that you have thought about it carefully, they will ask you to sign a formal document giving your agreement. The reporting officer will sign it too, as a witness. They will then give this form to the court and report to them that you understand what is involved.

What happens if I change my mind?

If you have begun the adoption process, and are no longer happy that your child is being adopted, you must get legal advice from a solicitor as soon as possible.

One of two things must happen before a court can take away your rights as a parent so that your child can be adopted:

• you must agree to this
• the court must decide to dispense with the need for you to agree.

If the court decides to dispense with the need for you to agree, you will be sent a copy of the statement of evidence they are given. You should discuss it with your solicitor as soon as you can. The court will ask an independent social worker (known as a 'guardian ad litem') to visit you. Their job is to safeguard your child's interests on behalf of the court. They will want you to say why you do not think it is a good idea for your child to be adopted.

The social worker will report your views to the court. You will also have an opportunity to go to the court yourself, to explain why you are not willing to agree to your child's adoption. An adoption order cannot be made unless the court is sure it would be in your child's best interests. They will have to take account of your views in deciding this.

If you are objecting to our application for a freeing order, you are not allowed to take the child away from where he or she is living at the moment, unless the court says you may.

Parents naturally have mixed feelings about their child being adopted, and the courts are very sympathetic to this. Although they understand why parents change their minds their first concern must be the child's welfare. The court can dispense with your agreement and make an adoption order anyway.

What happens to my child when they are adopted?

The child's surname will change to that of the adopters on adoption. We do not usually advise adopters to change the forenames given to the child by the birth parents. The adopters get an adoption certificate from the Registrar General which shows the child's new name and the adopters as their parents. This certificate takes the place of a birth certificate.

When your child reaches 18, he or she will be legally entitled, if they wish, to get a copy of their original birth certificate. This will show the child's original name, and will also give your name and the address where you were living when the birth was registered.

You must understand that adoption cannot guarantee your child will never know your identity or the facts of their birth and adoption. On the other hand, you may hope that your child will make enquiries about their original family and perhaps try to trace you. It is important that you are aware that not all adopted adults want to make these enquiries.

Exchanging letters after your child is adopted

Children and their birth family may exchange information about themselves, with the Council acting as intermediary. Find out about the post adoption letterbox exchange.

How do I apply to adopt?

When placing a child for adoption we have to be sure that adoption is right for you.

For more information, contact the Adoption and Permanence Team.