{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-agencies-wales-regulations-2005/regulation-27",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-agencies-wales-regulations-2005/regulation-27.json",
  "legislation": "wsi/2005/1313",
  "legislation_title": "The Adoption Agencies (Wales) Regulations 2005",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-agencies-wales-regulations-2005",
  "path": "regulation/27",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "27",
  "heading": "Pre-assessment decision",
  "text": "(1) The adoption agency must, taking into account the information obtained under regulations 25 and 26, decide—\n(a) whether the prospective adopter may be suitable to adopt a child, or\n(b) whether the prospective adopter is not suitable to adopt a child.\n(1A) If the information required under regulations 25 and 26 has yet to be obtained the adoption agency may decide to proceed as if it has made a decision under paragraph (1)(a).\n(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the agency must , where reasonably practicable, make its decision under paragraph (1) within a period of two months from the date on which the adoption agency notified the prospective adopter that it had decided to proceed with the pre-assessment process in accordance with regulation 21.\n(3) The adoption agency may delay making the decision under paragraph (1)—\n(a) where it is satisfied there are good reasons to do so because, for example, there has been a delay in obtaining information about the prospective adopter, or\n(b) upon the request of the prospective adopter.\n(4) Where the adoption agency decides that the prospective adopter may be suitable to adopt a child, or where paragraph (1A) applies, the agency must—\n(a) as soon as practicable, notify the prospective adopter of its decision, and\n(b) explain to the prospective adopter that they must , where reasonably practicable, notify the adoption agency that they wish to continue with the assessment process within six months of the date on which the notification is given.\n(5) Where the adoption agency decides that the prospective adopter is not suitable to adopt a child, the agency must as soon as practicable after making the decision notify the prospective adopter of its decision together with reasons for its decision.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Pt. 4 substituted (1.4.2020) by The Adoption Agencies (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/163), regs. 1(2), 10 (with reg. 18)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Reg. 27(1A) inserted (temp.) (1.11.2020) by virtue of The Adoption and Fostering (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1082), regs. 1(2), 3(a) (with regs. 9, 10) (as amended (30.3.2021) by S.I. 2021/251, reg. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in reg. 27(2) inserted (temp.) (1.11.2020) by virtue of The Adoption and Fostering (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1082), regs. 1(2), 3(b) (with regs. 9, 10) (as amended (30.3.2021) by S.I. 2021/251, reg. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in reg. 27(4) inserted (temp.) (1.11.2020) by virtue of The Adoption and Fostering (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1082), regs. 1(2), 3(c)(i) (with regs. 9, 10) (as amended (30.3.2021) by S.I. 2021/251, reg. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in reg. 27(4)(b) inserted (temp.) (1.11.2020) by virtue of The Adoption and Fostering (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1082), regs. 1(2), 3(c)(ii) (with regs. 9, 10) (as amended (30.3.2021) by S.I. 2021/251, reg. 2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2005/1313/regulation/27",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T00:06:24.223286+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."
}