Section 18 Placement ordersI1

Northern Ireland Not yet in force

(1)

A placement order is an order made by the court authorising an adoption authority to place a child for adoption with any prospective adopters who may be chosen by the authority.

(2)

The court may not make a placement order in respect of a child unless—

(a)

the child is subject to a care order;

(b)

the court is satisfied that the conditions in Article 50(2) of the Children Order (conditions for making a care order) are met; or

(c)

the child has no parent or guardian.

(3)

The court may only make a placement order if, in the case of each parent or guardian of the child, the court is satisfied—

(a)

that the parent or guardian has consented to the child being placed for adoption with any prospective adopters who may be chosen by the adoption authority and has not withdrawn that consent; or

(b)

that the parent’s or guardian’s consent should be dispensed with.

(4)

Subsection (3) is subject to section 51 (parental etc. consent).

(5)

A placement order continues in force until—

(a)

it is revoked under section 21;

(b)

an adoption order is made in respect of the child; or

(c)

the child marries, forms a civil partnership or attains the age of 18 years.

(6)

In subsection (5) “adoption order” means an adoption order made under the law of any part of the United Kingdom.

Annotations

Commencement

I1: S. 18 not in operation at Royal Assent, see s. 160(1)