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Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007

2007 asp 4 · Enacted 15 January 2007 · Extends to Scotland

Not fully up to date. 12 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 30 September 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 84(5)(a)substitutedChildren (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 2(3)(a)
s. 84(5)(b)(i)substitutedChildren (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 2(3)(b)
s. 84(5A)(5B)insertedChildren (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 2(3)(c)
s. 84(6)revokedChildren (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 2(3)(d)
s. 14(1)word substitutedChildren (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 2(2)(a)
s. 14(4)(b)repealedChildren (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 2(2)(b)
s. 14(4A)-(4C)insertedChildren (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 2(2)(c)
s. 14(6)word substitutedChildren (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 2(2)(d)
s. 14(8)repealedChildren (Scotland) Act 2020 s. 2(2)(e)
s. 110(3A)insertedChildren (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 s. 37(2)
s. 12A and cross-headinginsertedChildren (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 s. 40(2)
s. 117(5)(a)(iv)insertedChildren (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 s. 37(3)

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to restate and amend the law relating to adoption; to make other provision in relation to the care of children; to enable provision to be made in relation to allowances in respect of certain children; and for connected purposes.

The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 7th December 2006 and received Royal Assent on 15th January 2007C1C2C3

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act applied (with modifications) (28.9.2009) by Adoptions with a Foreign Element (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/182), regs. 53-61

C2

Act: power to modify conferred (1.10.2009) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (c. 22), ss. 55, 68(2); S.I. 2009/2232, art. 2(q)

C3

Act applied (with modifications) (21.12.2018) by The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1412), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2

Contents

  1. Part 1: Adoption
  2. Chapter 1: The adoption service
  3. The adoption service
  4. 1Duty of local authority to provide adoption service
  5. 2Carrying out of duties imposed by section 1
  6. 3Adoption service: regulations
  7. 4Local authority plans Repealed
  8. 5Guidance
  9. 6Assistance in carrying out functions under section 1
  10. 7Meaning of “adoption service” in Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 Repealed
  11. 8Adoption agencies: regulations about carrying out of functions
  12. Adoption support services
  13. 9Assessment of needs for adoption support services
  14. 10Provision of services
  15. 11Urgent provision
  16. 12Power to provide payment to person entitled to adoption support service
  17. Regulations
  18. 13Regulations
  19. Chapter 1A: Scotland's Adoption Register
  20. 13AScotland's Adoption Register
  21. 13BRegistration organisation
  22. 13CSupply of information for the Register
  23. 13DDisclosure of information
  24. 13EFees and other payments
  25. 13FUse of an organisation as agency for payments
  26. 13GSupplementary
  27. Chapter 2: The adoption process
  28. Preliminary
  29. 14Considerations applying to the exercise of powers
  30. Pre-adoption requirements
  31. 15Child to live with adopters before adoption order made
  32. 16Home visits
  33. 17Reports where child placed by agency
  34. 18Notification to local authority of adoption application
  35. 19Notice under section 18: local authority's duties
  36. Restrictions on removal of children placed for adoption
  37. 20Restrictions on removal: child placed for adoption with consent
  38. 21Restrictions on removal: notice of intention to adopt given
  39. 22Restrictions on removal: application for adoption order pending
  40. 23Restrictions on removal of child looked after by local authority
  41. Return of children
  42. 24Return of child removed in breach of certain provisions
  43. 25Return of child placed for adoption by adoption agency
  44. Adoption not proceeding: arrangements
  45. 26Looked after children: adoption not proceeding
  46. Contravention of sections 30 to 36 of 2002 Act
  47. 27Contravention of sections 30 to 36 of 2002 Act
  48. The making of adoption orders
  49. 28Adoption orders
  50. 29Adoption by certain couples
  51. 30Adoption by one person
  52. 31Parental etc. consent
  53. 32Consent of child aged 12 or over
  54. 33Restrictions on making orders
  55. 34Contravention of section 72 no bar to making order
  56. Effect of order on existing rights etc.
  57. 35Effect of order on existing rights etc.
  58. Revocation of supervision requirement
  59. 36Revocation of compulsory supervision order on making of adoption order
  60. Adoption records
  61. 37Information to be kept about adoptions
  62. 38Disclosure of information kept under relevant enactment
  63. Chapter 3: Status of adopted children
  64. 39Meaning of “adoption” in Chapter 3
  65. 40Status conferred by adoption
  66. 41Miscellaneous enactments
  67. 42Pensions
  68. 43Insurance
  69. 44Succession and inter vivos deeds
  70. Chapter 4: Adoption support plans
  71. Adoption support plans
  72. 45Adoption support plans
  73. 46Duration
  74. 47Family member's right to require review of plan
  75. 48Other cases where authority under duty to review plan
  76. Reassessment
  77. 49Reassessment of needs for adoption support services
  78. Directions
  79. 50Implementation of plans: directions
  80. Guidance
  81. 51Guidance
  82. Regulations
  83. 52Regulations about reviews of adoption support plans
  84. Chapter 5: Registration
  85. 53Adopted Children Register and index
  86. 54Searches and extracts
  87. 55Connections between the register and birth records
  88. 56Admissibility of extracts as evidence
  89. 57Interpretation of Chapter 5
  90. Chapter 6: Adoptions with a foreign element
  91. Restrictions on movement of children
  92. 58Restriction on bringing children into the United Kingdom
  93. 59Preliminary order where child to be adopted abroad
  94. 60Restriction on removal of children for adoption outwith Great Britain
  95. 61Regulations under section 58: offences
  96. Adoptions from abroad: special restrictions
  97. 62Declaration of special restrictions on adoptions from abroad
  98. 63Review
  99. 64The special restrictions
  100. 65Imposition of extra conditions in certain cases
  101. Charging
  102. 66Power to charge
  103. Overseas adoptions etc.
  104. 67Meaning of “overseas adoption”
  105. 68Annulment and recognition
  106. 69Section 68: supplementary provision
  107. 70Effect of determinations and orders made outwith Scotland
  108. Chapter 7: Miscellaneous
  109. Adoption allowances
  110. 71Adoption allowances schemes
  111. Prohibited payments
  112. 72Prohibition of certain payments
  113. 73Excepted payments
  114. Disclosure of medical information about parents
  115. 74Disclosure of medical information about parents
  116. Restrictions on arranging adoptions and placing for adoption
  117. 75Restriction on arranging adoptions and placing children
  118. 76Adoption societies which are not registered adoption services
  119. Effect of orders, and placing for adoption, under 2002 Act
  120. 77Effect of certain orders made in England and Wales
  121. 78Effect of placing for adoption etc. under 2002 Act
  122. 79Further consequences of placement and placement orders
  123. Part 2: Permanence orders
  124. The making of permanence orders
  125. 80Permanence orders
  126. 81Permanence orders: mandatory provision
  127. 82Permanence orders: ancillary provisions
  128. 83Order granting authority for adoption: conditions
  129. 84Conditions and considerations applicable to making of order
  130. 85Child in respect of whom order may be made
  131. 86Representations
  132. Effect of order
  133. 87Effect of order on existing parental right
  134. 88Effect of order on existing orders
  135. Revocation of supervision requirement
  136. 89Revocation of compulsory supervision order on making of permanence order
  137. Precedence
  138. 90Precedence of certain other orders
  139. Exercise of parental right under order
  140. 91Exercise of parental right under order
  141. Variation
  142. 92Variation of ancillary provisions in order
  143. 93Amendment of order to grant authority for child to be adopted
  144. 94Proceedings
  145. Orders and supervision requirements
  146. 95Duty of children's hearing to prepare report for court
  147. 96Application: effect on compulsory supervision order
  148. 97Interim orders and revocation of compulsory supervision order
  149. Revocation and variation
  150. 98Revocation
  151. 99Duty of local authority to apply for variation or revocation
  152. 100Revocation: order under section 11 of 1995 Act
  153. Notification requirements
  154. 101Local authority to give notice of certain matters
  155. Effect of subsequent adoption order on permanence order
  156. 102Effect of subsequent adoption order on permanence order
  157. Restriction on making certain orders under 1995 Act
  158. 103Restriction on making of orders under section 11 of 1995 Act
  159. Rules of procedure
  160. 104Permanence orders: rules of procedure
  161. Part 3: Miscellaneous
  162. Provisions applicable to adoption orders and permanence orders
  163. 105Notification of proposed application for order
  164. 106Child subject to compulsory supervision order: duty to refer to Principal Reporter
  165. 107Making of adoption order no longer to be bar to making of contact order
  166. 108Rules: appointment of curators ad litem and reporting officers
  167. 109Proceedings to be in private
  168. Care allowances and other payments: regulations
  169. 110Allowances and other payments for care of certain children: regulations
  170. Evidence and notices
  171. 111Evidence of consent
  172. 112Service of notices etc.
  173. 113Admissibility of certain documents as evidence
  174. Part 4: General
  175. 114Rules of procedure
  176. 115Offences by bodies corporate and partnerships
  177. 116Ancillary provision
  178. 117Orders and regulations
  179. 118Meaning of “appropriate court”
  180. 119Interpretation
  181. 120Minor and consequential amendments and repeals
  182. 121Short title and commencement
  183. Schedule 1: Registration of adoptions
  184. Registration of adoption orders
  185. 1Paragraph 1
  186. 2Paragraph 2
  187. 3Paragraph 3
  188. 4Paragraph 4
  189. Registration of adoptions in other parts of the British Islands
  190. 5Paragraph 5
  191. Registration of other adoptions
  192. 6Paragraph 6
  193. Amendment of orders and rectification of registers
  194. 7Paragraph 7
  195. Marking of entries on re-registration of birth
  196. 8Paragraph 8
  197. Schedule 2: Minor and consequential amendments
  198. Succession (Scotland) Act 1964 (c. 41)
  199. 1Paragraph 1
  200. Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (c. 49)
  201. 2Paragraph 2
  202. Foster Children (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 56)
  203. 3Paragraph 3
  204. Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 (c. 60)
  205. 4Paragraph 4
  206. Family Law Act 1986 (c. 55)
  207. 5Paragraph 5
  208. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (c. 37)
  209. 6Paragraph 6
  210. Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48)
  211. 7Paragraph 7
  212. Civil Evidence (Family Mediation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 6)
  213. 8Paragraph 8
  214. Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36)
  215. 9Paragraph 9
  216. Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999 (c. 18)
  217. 10Paragraph 10
  218. Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 8)
  219. 11Paragraph 11
  220. Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38)
  221. 12Paragraph 12
  222. Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (c. 5)
  223. 13Paragraph 13
  224. Joint Inspection of Children's Services and Inspection of Social Work Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 3)
  225. 14Paragraph 14
  226. Schedule 3Repeals