OpenLegislation

Adoption Act 1976

1976 c. 36 · Enacted 22 July 1976 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 7 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 October 2009.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 56(4)-(6)insertedAdoption and Children Act 2002 Sch. 4 para. 11(b)
s. 52(1)(c)power to extend conferredAdoption and Children Act 2002 Sch. 4 para. 16(1)(a)
s. 52(1A)insertedAdoption and Children Act 2002 Sch. 4 para. 15(a)
s. 52(2)words substitutedAdoption and Children Act 2002 Sch. 4 para. 15(b)
s. 39applied by 2008 c. 4, s. 67E(12) (as inserted)Crime and Policing Act 2026 s. 106(1)
s. 47excluded by 2008 c. 4, s. 67E(12) (as inserted)Crime and Policing Act 2026 s. 106(1)
s. 47(1)words substitutedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 106(4)
An Act to consolidate the enactments having effect in England and Wales in relation to adoption.[22nd July 1976]C1C2C3

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Power to amend Act conferred (5.7.1994) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (c. 37, SIF 83:1), ss. 30(9)(10), 39(3), 43(2); S.I. 1994/1776, art. 2(1)

C2

By Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 101(1), Sch. 12 para. 23; S.I. 1991/2208, art. 2(1), Sch.1 it is provided (14.10.1991) that in relation to any time before the commencement of s. 70 of that 1991 Act (which came into force on 1.10.1992 by S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2) references in any enactment amended by that 1991 act, to youth courts shall be construed as references to juvenile courts.

C3

Act applied (with modifications) (1.11.1994) by S.I. 1994/2767, reg. 2

Act: modified (prosp.) by 1999 c. 18, ss. 17, 18(3)

Contents

  1. Part I: The Adoption Service
  2. The Adoption Service
  3. 1Establishment of Adoption Service. Repealed
  4. 2Local authorities’ social services. Repealed
  5. Adoption societies
  6. 3Approval of adoption societies. Repealed
  7. 4Withdrawal of approval. Repealed
  8. 5Procedure on refusal to approve, or withdrawal of approval from, adoption societies. Repealed
  9. Welfare of children
  10. 6Duty to promote welfare of child. Repealed
  11. 7Religious upbringing of adopted child. Repealed
  12. Supplemental
  13. 8Inactive or defunct adoption societies. Repealed
  14. 9Regulation of adoption agencies. Repealed
  15. 9AIndependent review of determinations Repealed
  16. 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  17. 11Restriction on arranging adoptions and placing of children. Repealed
  18. Part II: Adoption Orders
  19. The making of adoption orders
  20. 12Adoption orders. Repealed
  21. 13Child to live with adopters before order made. Repealed
  22. 14Adoption by married couple. Repealed
  23. 15Adoption by one person. Repealed
  24. 16Parental agreement. Repealed
  25. 17Convention adoption orders. Repealed
  26. Freeing for adoption
  27. 18Freeing child for adoption.
  28. 19Progress reports to former parent.
  29. 20Revocation of s. 18 order.
  30. 21Variation of section 18 order so as to substitute one adoption agency for another.
  31. Supplemental
  32. 22Notification to local authority of adoption application. Repealed
  33. 23Reports where child placed by agency. Repealed
  34. 24Restrictions on making adoption orders. Repealed
  35. 25Interim orders. Repealed
  36. 26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  37. Part III: Care and Protection of Children Awaiting Adoption
  38. Restrictions on removal of children
  39. 27Restrictions on removal where adoption agreed or application made under s. 18. Repealed
  40. 28Restrictions on removal where applicant has provided home for 5 years. Repealed
  41. 29Return of child taken away in breach of s. 27 or 28. Repealed
  42. 30Return of children placed for adoption by adoption agencies. Repealed
  43. 31Application of s. 30 where child not placed for adoption. Repealed
  44. Protected children
  45. 32Meaning of “protected child”. Repealed
  46. 33Duty of local authorities to secure well-being of protected children. Repealed
  47. 34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  48. 35Notices and information to be given to local authorities. Repealed
  49. 36Offences relating to protected children. Repealed
  50. 37Miscellaneous provisions relating to protected children. Repealed
  51. Part IV: Status of Adopted Children
  52. 38Meaning of “adoption” in Part IV.
  53. 39Status conferred by adoption.
  54. 40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  55. 41Adoptive relatives.
  56. 42Rules of construction for instruments concerning property.
  57. 43Dispositions depending on date of birth.
  58. 44Property devolving with peerages etc.
  59. 45Protection of trustees and personal representatives.
  60. 46Meaning of “disposition”.
  61. 47Miscellaneous enactments.
  62. 48Pensions.
  63. 49Insurance.
  64. Part V: Registration and Revocation of Adoption Orders andConvention Adoptions
  65. 50Adopted Children Register. Repealed
  66. 51Disclosure of birth records of adopted children. Repealed
  67. 51AAdoption Contact Register. Repealed
  68. 52Revocation of adoptions on legitimation. Repealed
  69. 53Annulment etc. of overseas adoptions. Repealed
  70. 54Provisions supplementary to ss. 52(3) and 53. Repealed
  71. Part VI: Miscellaneous and Supplemental
  72. 55Adoption of children abroad. Repealed
  73. 56Restriction on removal of children for adoption outside Great Britain. Repealed
  74. 56ARestriction on bringing children into the United Kingdom Repealed
  75. 57Prohibition on certain payments. Repealed
  76. 57APermitted allowances. Repealed
  77. 58Restriction on advertisements. Repealed
  78. 58AInformation concerning adoption. Repealed
  79. 59Effect of determination and orders made in Scotland and overseas in adoption proceedings. Repealed
  80. 60Evidence of adoption in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Repealed
  81. 61Evidence of agreement and consent. Repealed
  82. 62Courts. Repealed
  83. 63Appeals etc. Repealed
  84. 64Proceedings to be in private. Repealed
  85. 65Duties of officers of the Service Repealed
  86. 65A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  87. 66Rules of procedure. Repealed
  88. 67Orders, rules and regulations. Repealed
  89. 68Offences by bodies corporate. Repealed
  90. 69Services of notices etc. Repealed
  91. 70Nationality. Repealed
  92. 71Internal law of a country. Repealed
  93. 72Interpretation. Repealed
  94. 73Transitional provisions, amendments and repeals. Repealed
  95. 74Short title, commencement and extent. Repealed
  96. Schedule 1: Registration of Adoptions
  98. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  100. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  102. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  104. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  106. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  108. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  109. Schedule 2: Transitional Provisions and Savings
  111. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  112. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  113. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  114. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  116. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  117. Rights relating to property
  118. 6Paragraph 6
  120. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  122. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  123. Schedule 3: Consequential Amendments
  124. Part
  125. Paragraph Repealed
  126. Paragraph Repealed
  127. Paragraph Repealed
  129. Paragraph Repealed
  131. Paragraph Repealed
  133. Paragraph Repealed
  134. Paragraph Repealed
  136. Paragraph Repealed
  137. Paragraph Repealed
  138. Paragraph Repealed
  140. Paragraph Repealed
  141. Paragraph Repealed
  143. Paragraph Repealed
  144. Paragraph Repealed
  146. Paragraph Repealed
  147. Paragraph Repealed
  148. Paragraph Repealed
  149. Paragraph Repealed
  151. Paragraph Repealed
  152. Paragraph Repealed
  153. Part
  154. Paragraph Repealed
  155. Schedule 4: Repeals