International Adoption

Adopting from overseas

Adopting from abroad is another option for couples looking to adopt. While prospective parents may believe that they might offer a child a better life in this country, this may not necessarily be the case, as sometimes it is healthier for a child to be brought up surrounded by the culture and customs it was born into.
However, sometimes overseas adoption can be the best option, and in these circumstances the following procedures will apply.

To adopt a child from somewhere other than the British Isles the process must comply with the Adoption and Children Act 2002, which stipulates that:

• The person wishing to adopt must apply to a local authority or adoption agency for an assessment of whether they are suitable to become an adoptive parent.
• It is then the duty of the local authority or adoption agency to provide a report which approves the person wishing to adopt as fit to be an adoptive parent. The report must cover a wide range of details about the applicants and the child who is to be adopted.
• If the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families is happy with the application, they must then provide the Certificate of Eligibility and Suitability, which confirms to the authorities in the country they wish to adopt from that the person wishing to adopt has been assessed and approved as fit and that the child will be allowed to live permanently in the UK. 
• The country where the child is living then needs to write a report regarding whether the child is suitable for adoption, their family and social background and whether the child has any special needs. It must also state whether the adoption has been accepted and if they believe that adoption is in the best interests of the child.
• The child must be under 18, unmarried and be financially supported by the applicants. The applicants must also show that the child was adopted legally and because the child’s birth parents could no longer care for the child, as opposed to being arranged to get the child entry into the UK.

Advice and information on child support

Family breakdowns are hard. When two parents separate, it can be worrying knowing whether your child is going to receive the correct support. Often, one parent (usually the parent that mainly resides with the child), will apply for child support through the CSA (Child Support Agency).

The domain of family law solicitors

Family law is a large part of the body of rules and regulations that make up UK law. Family life is considered to be such an important part of our society, not just in the security and development that it provides to children but also as a major driver of the economy.

All about family law

Problems in the family can be of a very sensitive nature. This is why there is a specific area dedicated just towards family law so all the issues that may arise are dealt with in the best possible manner.