Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

2022 nia 18 · Enacted 27 April 2022 · Extends to Northern Ireland

Contents

1. Part 1: Adoption Not yet in force
2. Chapter 1: Introductory Not yet in force
3. 1Considerations applying to the exercise of powers Not yet in force
4. Chapter 2: The Adoption Service Not yet in force
5. The Adoption Service Not yet in force
6. 2Basic definitions Not yet in force
7. 3Adoption authority Not yet in force
8. 4The Adoption Service Not yet in force
9. 5Assessments etc. for adoption support services Not yet in force
10. 6Adoption support services: duty to provide information Not yet in force
11. 7Arrangements on cancellation of registration Not yet in force
12. 8Inactive or defunct adoption societies, etc. Not yet in force
13. Regulations Not yet in force
14. 9General power to regulate adoption agencies Not yet in force
15. 10Management, etc., of agencies Not yet in force
16. 11Fees Not yet in force
17. 12Independent review of qualifying determinations of adoption agencies Not yet in force
18. Supplemental Not yet in force
19. 13Information concerning adoption Not yet in force
20. 14Inspection of premises, etc. Not yet in force
21. Chapter 3: Placement for adoption and adoption orders Not yet in force
22. Placement of children by adoption agency for adoption Not yet in force
23. 15Placement for adoption by agencies Not yet in force
24. 16Placing children with parental consent Not yet in force
25. 17Advance consent to adoption Not yet in force
26. 18Placement orders Not yet in force
27. 19Applications for placement orders Not yet in force
28. 20Varying placement orders Not yet in force
29. 21Revoking placement orders Not yet in force
30. 22Parental responsibility Not yet in force
31. 23Contact Not yet in force
32. 24Contact: supplementary Not yet in force
33. 25Further consequences of placement Not yet in force
34. 26Further consequences of placement orders Not yet in force
35. Removal of children who are or may be placed by adoption agencies Not yet in force
36. 27General prohibitions on removal Not yet in force
37. 28Recovery by parent etc. where child not placed or is a baby Not yet in force
38. 29Recovery by parent etc. where child placed and consent withdrawn Not yet in force
39. 30Recovery by parent etc. where child placed and placement order refused Not yet in force
40. 31Placement orders: prohibition on removal Not yet in force
41. 32Return of child in other cases Not yet in force
42. Removal of children in non-agency cases Not yet in force
43. 33Restrictions on removal Not yet in force
44. 34Applications for adoption Not yet in force
45. 35Authority foster parents Not yet in force
46. 36Partners of parents Not yet in force
47. 37Other non-agency cases Not yet in force
48. Breach of restrictions on removal Not yet in force
49. 38Recovery orders Not yet in force
50. Preliminaries to adoption Not yet in force
51. 39Child to live with adopters before application Not yet in force
52. 40Reports where child placed by agency Not yet in force
53. 41Notice of intention to adopt Not yet in force
54. 42Suitability of adopters Not yet in force
55. The making of adoption orders Not yet in force
56. 43Adoption orders Not yet in force
57. 44Conditions for making adoption orders Not yet in force
58. 45Restrictions on making adoption orders Not yet in force
59. 46Applications for adoption Not yet in force
60. 47Adoption by couple Not yet in force
61. 48Adoption by one person Not yet in force
62. Post-adoption contact Not yet in force
63. 49Post-adoption contact Not yet in force
64. 50Orders under section 49: supplementary Not yet in force
65. Placement and adoption: general Not yet in force
66. 51Parental etc. consent Not yet in force
67. 52Modification of Children Order in relation to adoption Not yet in force
68. 53Disclosing information to prospective adopters Not yet in force
69. 54Revocation of adoptions on legitimation Not yet in force
70. Disclosure of information about a person’s adoption Not yet in force
71. 55Information to be kept about a person’s adoption Not yet in force
72. 56Restrictions on disclosure of protected etc. information Not yet in force
73. 57Disclosure of other information Not yet in force
74. 58Offence Not yet in force
75. 59Disclosing information to adopted adult Not yet in force
76. 60Disclosing protected information about adults Not yet in force
77. 61Disclosing protected information about children Not yet in force
78. 62Counselling Not yet in force
79. 63Other provision to be made by regulations Not yet in force
80. 64Sections 55 to 64: interpretation Not yet in force
81. Chapter 4: Status of adopted children Not yet in force
82. 65Meaning of adoption in Chapter 4 Not yet in force
83. 66Status conferred by adoption Not yet in force
84. 67Adoptive relatives Not yet in force
85. 68Rules of interpretation for instruments concerning property Not yet in force
86. 69Dispositions depending on date of birth Not yet in force
87. 70Property devolving with peerages etc. Not yet in force
88. 71Protection of trustees and personal representatives Not yet in force
89. 72Meaning of disposition Not yet in force
90. 73Miscellaneous Not yet in force
91. 74Pensions Not yet in force
92. 75Insurance Not yet in force
93. Chapter 5: Registers Not yet in force
94. Adopted Children Register, etc. Not yet in force
95. 76Adopted Children Register Not yet in force
96. 77Searches and copies Not yet in force
97. 78Connections between the register and birth records Not yet in force
98. Adoption Contact Register Not yet in force
99. 79Adoption Contact Register Not yet in force
100. 80Adoption Contact Register: supplementary Not yet in force
101. 81Interpretation Not yet in force
102. Chapter 6: Adoptions with a foreign element Not yet in force
103. Bringing children into and out of the United Kingdom Not yet in force
104. 82Restriction on bringing children in Not yet in force
105. 83Giving parental responsibility prior to adoption abroad Not yet in force
106. 84Restriction on taking children out Not yet in force
107. 85Power to modify sections 82 and 84 Not yet in force
108. Adoptions from abroad: special restrictions Not yet in force
109. 86Declaration of special restrictions on adoptions from abroad Not yet in force
110. 87Review Not yet in force
111. 88The special restrictions Not yet in force
112. 89Imposition of extra conditions in certain cases Not yet in force
113. Overseas adoptions Not yet in force
114. 90Overseas adoptions Not yet in force
115. Miscellaneous Not yet in force
116. 91Modification of section 66 for Hague Convention adoptions Not yet in force
117. 92Annulment etc. of overseas or Hague Convention adoptions Not yet in force
118. 93Section 92: supplementary Not yet in force
119. 94Overseas determinations and orders Not yet in force
120. 95Power to charge Not yet in force
121. Chapter 7: Miscellaneous Not yet in force
122. Restrictions Not yet in force
123. 96Restriction on arranging adoptions etc. Not yet in force
124. 97Offence of breaching restrictions under section 96 Not yet in force
125. 98Restriction on reports Not yet in force
126. 99Prohibition of certain payments Not yet in force
127. 100Excepted payments Not yet in force
128. 101Sections 96 to 100: interpretation Not yet in force
129. Information Not yet in force
130. 102Pre-commencement adoptions: information Not yet in force
131. Proceedings Not yet in force
132. 103Proceedings for offences Not yet in force
133. 104Appeals Not yet in force
134. 105Privacy Not yet in force
135. Children’s court guardians Not yet in force
136. 106Children’s court guardians Not yet in force
137. 107Right of access to adoption agency records Not yet in force
138. Evidence Not yet in force
139. 108Evidence of consent Not yet in force
140. Orders made in Great Britain, etc. Not yet in force
141. 109Effect of certain Scottish orders and provisions Not yet in force
142. 110Effect of certain orders made in England and Wales Not yet in force
143. 111Use of adoption records from Great Britain, etc. Not yet in force
144. 112Channel Islands and the Isle of Man Not yet in force
145. General Not yet in force
146. 113Avoiding delay Not yet in force
147. 114Service of notices etc. Not yet in force
148. 115Jurisdiction of courts Not yet in force
149. Part 2: Children order amendments
150. 116Definition of family proceedings
151. 117Article 8 orders: authority foster parents Not yet in force
152. 118Duration of residence orders
153. 119Special guardianship Not yet in force
154. 120Ascertainment of children’s wishes
155. 121Provision of services to children in need, etc. Not yet in force
156. 122Duty of authorities to promote etc. achievement, learning and development, and to prevent disruption to education or training Not yet in force
157. 123Corporate parenting principles Not yet in force
158. 124Placement of looked after children with prospective adopters Not yet in force
159. 125Accommodation for children: requirements Not yet in force
160. 126Authority foster parents Not yet in force
161. 127Duty to ensure visits to and advice etc. for children Not yet in force
162. 128Former relevant children: continuing functions Not yet in force
163. 129Local offer for care leavers Not yet in force
164. 130Inquiries into representations Not yet in force
165. 131Review of cases of looked after children Not yet in force
166. 132Independent advocacy services Not yet in force
167. 133Definition of harm
168. 134Care plans Not yet in force
169. 135Contact: children in care of authority Not yet in force
170. 136Persons authorised to act as children’s court guardian Not yet in force
171. 137Renaming of guardians ad litem
172. 138Interests of children in proceedings Not yet in force
173. 139Definition of privately fostered child Not yet in force
174. 140Welfare of children who will be privately fostered Not yet in force
175. 141Notification of fostering: public awareness Not yet in force
176. 142Privacy for children in proceedings Not yet in force
177. 143Report on the operation of the Children Order
178. Part 3: Miscellaneous and supplementary
179. Northern Ireland Adoption and Children Act Register Not yet in force
180. 144Northern Ireland Adoption and Children Act Register Not yet in force
181. 145Use of an organisation to establish the register Not yet in force
182. 146Use of an organisation as an agency for payments Not yet in force
183. 147Supply of information for the register Not yet in force
184. 148Disclosure of information Not yet in force
185. 149Search and inspection of the register by prospective adopters Not yet in force
186. 150Search and inspection of the register by adoption agencies Not yet in force
187. 151Supplementary Not yet in force
188. Supplementary
189. 152Time limit within which proceedings may be brought Not yet in force
190. 153Research and investigations Not yet in force
191. 154Amendments, transitional and transitory provisions, savings and repeals Not yet in force
192. 155Regulations and orders
193. 156Rules of court Not yet in force
194. 157Supplementary and consequential provision
195. 158Review
196. 159Interpretation
197. 160Commencement
198. 161Short title
199. Schedule 1: Registration of adoptions Not yet in force
200. Registration of adoption orders Not yet in force
201. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
202. Registration of adoptions in Great Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands Not yet in force
203. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
204. Registration of other adoptions Not yet in force
205. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
206. Amendment of orders and rectification of Registers and other records Not yet in force
207. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
208. Marking of entries on re-registration of birth on legitimation Not yet in force
209. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
210. Cancellations in registers on legitimation Not yet in force
211. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
212. Schedule 2: Disclosure of birth records by Registrar General Not yet in force
213. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
214. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
215. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
216. Schedule 3: Minor and consequential amendments
217. Part 1: Amendments of primary legislation
218. The Legitimacy Act (Northern Ireland) 1928 Not yet in force
219. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
220. The Births and Deaths Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 Not yet in force
221. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
222. The Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 Not yet in force
223. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
224. The Child Abduction (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 Not yet in force
225. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
226. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
227. The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 Not yet in force
228. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
229. The Family Law Act 1986 Not yet in force
230. 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
231. 8Paragraph 8 Not yet in force
232. The Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 Not yet in force
233. 9Paragraph 9 Not yet in force
234. The Matrimonial and Family Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 Not yet in force
235. 10Paragraph 10 Not yet in force
236. The Armed Forces Act 1991 Not yet in force
237. 11Paragraph 11 Not yet in force
238. 12Paragraph 12 Not yet in force
239. 13Paragraph 13 Not yet in force
240. 14Paragraph 14 Not yet in force
241. The Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 Not yet in force
242. 15Paragraph 15 Not yet in force
243. The Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 Not yet in force
244. 16Paragraph 16 Not yet in force
245. 17Paragraph 17 Not yet in force
246. The Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 Not yet in force
247. 18Paragraph 18 Not yet in force
248. 19Paragraph 19 Not yet in force
249. 20Paragraph 20 Not yet in force
250. 21Paragraph 21 Not yet in force
251. The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 Not yet in force
252. 22Paragraph 22 Not yet in force
253. 23Paragraph 23 Not yet in force
254. 24Paragraph 24 Not yet in force
255. 25Paragraph 25 Not yet in force
256. 26Paragraph 26 Not yet in force
257. 27Paragraph 27 Not yet in force
258. 28Paragraph 28 Not yet in force
259. 29Paragraph 29 Not yet in force
260. 30Paragraph 30 Not yet in force
261. 31Paragraph 31 Not yet in force
262. 32Paragraph 32 Not yet in force
263. 33Paragraph 33 Not yet in force
264. 34Paragraph 34 Not yet in force
265. 35Paragraph 35 Not yet in force
266. 36Paragraph 36 Not yet in force
267. 37Paragraph 37 Not yet in force
268. 38Paragraph 38 Not yet in force
269. 39Paragraph 39 Not yet in force
270. 40Paragraph 40 Not yet in force
271. 41Paragraph 41 Not yet in force
272. 42Paragraph 42 Not yet in force
273. 43Paragraph 43 Not yet in force
274. 44Paragraph 44 Not yet in force
275. The Children (Scotland) Act 1995
276. 45Paragraph 45
277. The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 Not yet in force
278. 46Paragraph 46 Not yet in force
279. 47Paragraph 47 Not yet in force
280. 48Paragraph 48 Not yet in force
281. 49Paragraph 49 Not yet in force
282. 50Paragraph 50 Not yet in force
283. The Police Act 1997 Not yet in force
284. 51Paragraph 51 Not yet in force
285. The Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 Not yet in force
286. 52Paragraph 52 Not yet in force
287. 53Paragraph 53 Not yet in force
288. The Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002
289. 54Paragraph 54
290. 55Paragraph 55
291. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 Not yet in force
292. 56Paragraph 56 Not yet in force
293. 57Paragraph 57 Not yet in force
294. 58Paragraph 58 Not yet in force
295. 59Paragraph 59 Not yet in force
296. The Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Not yet in force
297. 60Paragraph 60 Not yet in force
298. The Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation)(Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Not yet in force
299. 61Paragraph 61 Not yet in force
300. 62Paragraph 62 Not yet in force
301. 63Paragraph 63 Not yet in force
302. 64Paragraph 64 Not yet in force
303. 65Paragraph 65 Not yet in force
304. The Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Not yet in force
305. 66Paragraph 66 Not yet in force
306. 67Paragraph 67 Not yet in force
307. The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Not yet in force
308. 68Paragraph 68 Not yet in force
309. The Children and Adoption Act 2006 Not yet in force
310. 69Paragraph 69 Not yet in force
311. 70Paragraph 70 Not yet in force
312. The Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 Not yet in force
313. 71Paragraph 71 Not yet in force
314. 72Paragraph 72 Not yet in force
315. 73Paragraph 73 Not yet in force
316. 74Paragraph 74 Not yet in force
317. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 Not yet in force
318. 75Paragraph 75 Not yet in force
319. The Children’s Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 Not yet in force
320. 76Paragraph 76 Not yet in force
321. The Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 Not yet in force
322. 77Paragraph 77 Not yet in force
323. The Data Protection Act 2018 Not yet in force
324. 78Paragraph 78 Not yet in force
325. 79Paragraph 79 Not yet in force
326. The Health and Social Care Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 Not yet in force
327. 80Paragraph 80 Not yet in force
328. Part 2: Amendments of subordinate legislation Not yet in force
329. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) Regulations 2018 Not yet in force
330. 81Paragraph 81 Not yet in force
331. 82Paragraph 82 Not yet in force
332. 84Paragraph 84 Not yet in force
333. Schedule 4: Transitional and transitory provisions and savings Not yet in force
334. Adoption support services Not yet in force
335. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
336. Pending applications for freeing orders Not yet in force
337. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
338. Freeing orders Not yet in force
339. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
340. Pending applications for adoption orders Not yet in force
341. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
342. Pending applications for parental orders Not yet in force
343. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
344. Advertising Not yet in force
345. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
346. Registration of adoptions Not yet in force
347. 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
348. The Adoption (Hague Convention) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 Not yet in force
349. 8Paragraph 8 Not yet in force
350. The Child Abduction (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 Not yet in force
351. 9Paragraph 9 Not yet in force
352. Schedule 5Repeals Not yet in force