{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-act-1976/section-21",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-act-1976/section-21.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1976/36",
  "legislation_title": "Adoption Act 1976",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-act-1976",
  "path": "section/21",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "21",
  "heading": "Variation of section 18 order so as to substitute one adoption agency for another.",
  "text": "(1) On an application to which this section applies, an authorised court may vary an order under section 18 so as to give parental responsibility for the child to another adoption agency (the substitute agency”) in place of the agency for the time being having parental responsibility for the child under the order ( “the existing agency”).\n(2) This section applies to any application made jointly by—\n(a) the existing agency; and\n(b) the would-be substitute agency.\n(3) Where an order under section 18 is varied under this section, section 19 shall apply as if the substitute agency had been given responsibility for the child on the making of the order.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Ss. 1-37 repealed (30.12.2005) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), s. 148(1), Sch. 5 (with Sch. 4 paras. 2, 6-8); S.I. 2005/2897, art. 2(b) (ss. 19-21 continued (30.12.2005) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), s. 148(1), Sch. 4 para. 7(1)(a) (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2897, art. 2(a) (with arts. 3-16))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 21 substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 88, Sch. 10 para.9 (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1976/36/section/21",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:30:09.141788+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}