Adoption and step children
If you or your partner has a child by a previous relationship who is living with you on a permanent basis, you may be thinking about the ways in which you can secure the legal rights and responsibilities you both have regarding the children living in your family.
There are a number of ways that a step parent can acquire Parental Responsibility for his or her step child.
- A Parental Responsibility Agreement or Order is an option where the step parent is married to, or has entered a civil partnership with, the parent of the child. In this situation the step parent can acquire parental responsibility for the child with the agreement of the child's parent who is the partner and the other parent if s/he has parental responsibility for the child. Otherwise this may be by order of the Court
- A Residence Order
- Step parent adoption
The legal process
There is a requirement to formally notify the local authority in writing of an intention to adopt the child and this must be done three months before an application to the court can be made. The court charges a fee for adoption applications which is currently £160.
Adoption is a formal, legal and permanent step in a child's life and requires a very thorough report which will be prepared by the local authority for the court. A social worker is allocated to complete the report and will need to:
- visit you and your family at home
- ascertain the wishes and views of the non-resident parent
- ascertain the wishes and feelings of the child
- speak to other children in the family
- complete Criminal Record checks and statutory checks
- speak to the child's teacher if s/he is at school
The court will need to be satisfied that the child's future and long term welfare will best be met through adoption rather than by any other order or by there being no order made at all. The court will also consider the wishes and feelings of the child's non-resident parent. An adoption order can only be made with the consent of the other parent or, in exceptional circumstances, if the court agrees to dispense with his or her consent.
The adoption and permanence team are able to provide you with detailed written information about step children and adoption and to answer any queries that you may have. This will help ensure that you have the necessary advice and information to be able to make the best decisions for your child.
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Name: Adoption and Permanence Team
Email: adoptionpermanence@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Tel: 01305 221453
Full details for Adoption and Permanence Team
