Legal support

Adoption is a lifelong journey, and legal support can be essential at various stages. In England, several organisations and services offer legal guidance and advocacy for adoptive families.

Early permanence (also known as fostering to adopt)

Early permanence means an adult, or couple, is approved to be both foster carer and adoptive parent. A child is placed in foster care, and if the Court then decides adoption is in the child’s best interests, the child is then adopted by their carers.

If your child is placed under early permanence arrangements, their legal status varies depending on the individual situation. Your child’s social worker can explain more.

Applying for an Adoption Order

Your child’s social worker will support you in making the application, including how to keep your name confidential. The fee for this is usually paid by the Local Authority which placed your child/ren, and application made at the Court which made the Placement Order. Read more on Coram.

Receiving an Adoption Order

You will receive a copy of the Adoption Order which replaces the child’s birth certificate and must be kept safe. Once the Adoption Order is made, adoptive parent/s take on all legal rights and responsibilities.

Keeping in touch with important people from my child’s past

Adoptive parents make an agreement when their child is placed, which sets out how they will support their child’s important relationships.

Very occasionally, a Court will make a Contact Order which sets out what level of contact is required between siblings or birth relatives. Your child’s social worker will explain this to you if it’s relevant to your child.

Other support - Adoption UK

Adoption UK is a national charity offering support, training and advocacy for adoptive families. It provides resources on legal rights and entitlements and can signpost to specialist legal advisors.

Visit Adoption UK

Family Lives

Family Lives offers detailed guidance on legal rights under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, including:

Legal advice for birth parents and adopters

Advocacy during court proceedings

Support with contact arrangements and Section 8 Orders

Coram children’s legal centre

Provide legal advice on family matters such as divorce, child arrangement orders, and contact. It also provides services around education and tribunals.

IPSEA

Offer free, and independent, legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They also provide training on the SEND legal framework to parents and carers, professionals and other organisations.