OpenLegislation

Adoption and Children Act 2002 in Northern Ireland

2002 c. 38 · Enacted 7 November 2002 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 16 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 30 November 2022.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 144(1)words insertedAdoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 Sch. 3 para. 59(b)
s. 30extended (N.I.)Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 s. 110(2)(3)
s. 34extended (N.I.)Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 s. 110(2)(3)
s. 36extended (N.I.)Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 s. 110(2)(3)
s. 63(4)(b)words substitutedAdoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 Sch. 3 para. 56
s. 65(2)(b)words substitutedAdoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 Sch. 3 para. 57
s. 123(3)(a)words substitutedAdoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 Sch. 3 para. 58
s. 144(1)words substitutedAdoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 Sch. 3 para. 59(a)
Sch. 3 para. 94repealedSafeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 Sch. 10
s. 4AinsertedChildren and Families Act 2014 s. 5
s. 78(4)(a)words omittedData (Use and Access) Act 2025 Sch. 3 para. 24(a)
s. 78(4)(b)word substitutedData (Use and Access) Act 2025 Sch. 3 para. 24(b)
s. 67applied by 2008 c. 4, s. 67E(12) (as inserted)Crime and Policing Act 2026 s. 106(1)
s. 74excluded by 2008 c. 4, s. 67E(12) (as inserted)Crime and Policing Act 2026 s. 106(1)
s. 74(1)word omittedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 106(5)(a)
s. 74(1)(c) and wordinsertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 106(5)(b)

Contents

  1. Chapter 1: Introductory
  2. Chapter 2: The Adoption Service
  3. The Adoption Service
  4. 2Basic definitions
  5. 3ZAEngland - joint arrangements etc
  6. 3AWales – joint arrangements
  7. 4BAdoption support services: duty to provide information
  8. 8Adoption support agencies
  9. Regulations
  10. Supplemental
  11. 16Distribution of functions in relation to registered adoption societies Repealed
  12. 17Inquiries Not yet in force
  13. Chapter 3: Placement for adoption and adoption orders
  14. Placement of children by adoption agency for adoption
  15. 29Further consequences of placement orders
  16. Removal of children who are or may be placed by adoption agencies
  17. 30General prohibitions on removal
  18. Removal of children in non-agency cases
  19. Breach of restrictions on removal
  20. Preliminaries to adoption
  21. The making of adoption orders
  22. Post-adoption contact
  23. 51APost-adoption contact
  24. 51BOrders under section 51A: supplementary
  25. Placement and adoption: general
  26. 53Modification of 1989 Act and 2014 Act in relation to adoption
  27. Disclosure of information in relation to a person’s adoption
  28. 63Counselling
  29. 65Sections 56 to 65: interpretation
  30. Chapter 4: Status of Adopted Children
  31. 66Meaning of adoption in Chapter 4
  32. 67Status conferred by adoption
  33. 68Adoptive relatives
  34. 69Rules of interpretation for instruments concerning property
  35. 70Dispositions depending on date of birth
  36. 71Property devolving with peerages etc.
  37. 72Protection of trustees and personal representatives
  38. 73Meaning of disposition
  39. 74Miscellaneous enactments
  40. 75Pensions
  41. 76Insurance
  42. Chapter 5: The Registers
  43. 77Adopted Children Register
  44. 78Searches and copies
  45. 80Adoption Contact Register
  46. 82Interpretation
  47. Chapter 6: Adoptions with a foreign element
  48. Bringing children into and out of the United Kingdom
  49. 83Restriction on bringing children in
  50. 84Giving parental responsibility prior to adoption abroad
  51. 85Restriction on taking children out
  52. 86Power to modify sections 83 and 85
  53. Overseas adoptions
  54. 87Overseas adoptions
  55. Miscellaneous
  56. 88Modification of section 67 for Hague Convention adoptions
  57. 89Annulment etc. of overseas or Hague Convention adoptions
  58. 90Section 89: supplementary
  59. 91Overseas determinations and orders
  60. Restrictions
  61. 94Restriction on reports
  62. 97Sections 92 to 96: interpretation
  63. Information
  64. Proceedings
  65. 99Proceedings for offences
  66. 100Appeals Repealed
  67. 101Privacy
  68. The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
  69. Evidence
  70. 104Evidence of consent
  71. Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Islands
  72. 105Effect of certain Scottish orders and provisions
  73. 106Effect of certain Northern Irish orders and provisions
  74. 107Use of adoption records from other parts of the British Islands
  75. 108Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
  76. General
  77. 110Service of notices etc.
  78. Part 2: Amendments of the Children Act 1989
  79. 111Parental responsibility of unmarried father
  80. 112Acquisition of parental responsibility by step-parent
  81. 113Section 8 orders: local authority foster parents
  82. 114Residence orders: extension to age of 18
  83. 115Special guardianship
  84. 116Accommodation of children in need etc.
  85. 117Inquiries by local authorities into representations
  86. 118Review of cases of looked after children
  87. 119Advocacy services
  88. 120Meaning of “harm” in the 1989 Act
  89. 121Care plans
  90. 122Interests of children in proceedings
  91. Part 3: Miscellaneous and final provisions
  92. Chapter 1: Miscellaneous
  93. Advertisements in the United Kingdom
  94. 123Restriction on advertisements etc.
  95. 124Offence of breaching restriction under section 123
  96. Other miscellaneous provisions
  97. 132Amendment of Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978: contravention of sections 30 to 36 of this Act Repealed
  98. 133Scottish restriction on bringing children into or out of United Kingdom Not yet in force
  99. 134Amendment of Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978: overseas adoptions Not yet in force
  100. 135Adoption and fostering: criminal records
  101. 136Payment of grants in connection with welfare services
  102. 137Extension of the Hague Convention to British overseas territories
  103. 138Proceedings in Great Britain
  104. Amendments etc.
  105. 139Amendments, transitional and transitory provisions, savings and repeals
  106. Chapter 2: Final provisions
  107. 140Orders, rules and regulations
  108. 141Rules of procedure
  109. 142Supplementary and consequential provision
  110. 143Offences by bodies corporate and unincorporated bodies
  111. 144General interpretation etc.
  112. 145Devolution: Wales
  113. 146Expenses
  114. 147Glossary
  115. 148Commencement
  116. 149Extent
  117. 150Short title
  118. 2Registration of adoptions in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands
  119. 4Amendment of orders and rectification of Registers and other records
  120. 5Marking of entries on re-registration of birth on legitimation
  121. 6Cancellations in registers on legitimation
  122. 4Paragraph 4
  123. Schedule 3: Minor and consequential amendments
  124. 1The Marriage Act 1949 (c. 76)
  125. 2Paragraph 2
  126. 3Paragraph 3
  127. 4Paragraph 4
  128. 5Paragraph 5
  129. 6The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20)
  130. 7Paragraph 7
  131. 8The Sexual Offences Act 1956 (c. 69) Not yet in force
  132. 9The Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 (c. 46)
  133. 10Paragraph 10
  134. 11Paragraph 11
  135. 12The Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42)
  136. 13Paragraph 13
  137. 14Paragraph 14
  138. 15The Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77)
  139. 16The Legitimacy Act 1976 (c. 31)
  140. 17Paragraph 17
  141. 18Paragraph 18
  142. 19The Adoption Act 1976 (c. 36)
  143. 20The National Health Service Act 1977 (c. 49) Repealed
  144. 21The Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978 (c. 28) Repealed
  145. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  146. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  147. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  148. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  149. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  150. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  151. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  152. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  153. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  154. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  155. 32Paragraph 32 Repealed
  156. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  157. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  158. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  159. 36The Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c. 43)
  160. 37Paragraph 37 Repealed
  161. 38Paragraph 38 Repealed
  162. 39Paragraph 39
  163. 40Paragraph 40
  164. 41The Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20)
  165. 42The Child Abduction Act 1984 (c. 37)
  166. 43Paragraph 43
  167. 44The Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 (c. 42) Not yet in force
  168. 45The Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 (c. 60)
  169. 46The Family Law Act 1986 (c. 55)
  170. 47Paragraph 47
  171. 48Paragraph 48
  172. 49Paragraph 49
  173. 50The Family Law Reform Act 1987 (c. 42)
  174. 51Paragraph 51
  175. 52Paragraph 52
  176. 53The Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (S.I. 1987/2203 (N.I. 22))
  177. 54The Children Act 1989 (c. 41)
  178. 55Paragraph 55
  179. 56Paragraph 56
  180. 57Paragraph 57
  181. 58Paragraph 58
  182. 59Paragraph 59
  183. 60Paragraph 60
  184. 61Paragraph 61
  185. 62Paragraph 62
  186. 63Paragraph 63
  187. 64Paragraph 64
  188. 65Paragraph 65
  189. 66Paragraph 66 Not yet in force
  190. 67Paragraph 67
  191. 68Paragraph 68
  192. 69Paragraph 69
  193. 70Paragraph 70
  194. 71Paragraph 71
  195. 72Paragraph 72
  196. 73Paragraph 73
  197. 74Paragraph 74
  198. 75Paragraph 75 Repealed
  199. 76The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (c. 37)
  200. 77Paragraph 77
  201. 78Paragraph 78
  202. 79Paragraph 79 Not yet in force
  203. 80The Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41)
  204. 81The Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48)
  205. 82The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36)
  206. 83Paragraph 83
  207. 84Paragraph 84 Repealed
  208. 85The Family Law Act 1996 (c. 27)
  209. 86Paragraph 86
  210. 87Paragraph 87
  211. 88Paragraph 88
  212. 89The Housing Act 1996 (c. 52) Repealed
  213. 90Paragraph 90 Repealed
  214. 91Paragraph 91 Repealed
  215. 92Paragraph 92 Repealed
  216. 93The Police Act 1997 (c. 50)
  217. 94The Protection of Children Act 1999 (c. 14) Not yet in force
  218. 95The Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999 (c. 18)
  219. 96Paragraph 96
  220. 97Paragraph 97
  221. 98Paragraph 98
  222. 99Paragraph 99
  223. 100Paragraph 100 Not yet in force
  224. 101Paragraph 101
  225. 102The Access to Justice Act 1999 (c. 22) Repealed
  226. 103The Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14)
  227. 104Paragraph 104
  228. 105Paragraph 105
  229. 106Paragraph 106
  230. 107Paragraph 107
  231. 108Paragraph 108
  232. 109Paragraph 109
  233. 110Paragraph 110
  234. 111Paragraph 111
  235. 112Paragraph 112
  236. 113Paragraph 113
  237. 114Paragraph 114
  238. 115Paragraph 115
  239. 116Paragraph 116
  240. 117Paragraph 117
  241. 118The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (c. 43)
  242. Schedule 4: Transitional and transitory provisions and savings
  243. 6Pending applications for freeing orders
  244. 7Freeing orders
  245. 8Pending applications for adoption orders
  246. 9Notification of adoption applications Not yet in force
  247. 17Status
  248. 18Paragraph 18
  249. 19Paragraph 19
  250. Schedule 5Repeals
  251. Schedule 6Glossary