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Adoption after a care order

If the court has made a care order for your child, they may be placed with a family member or in foster care. In some cases, the court may decide that adoption is in the child’s best interests. This involves a placement order, which allows the Local Authority to place your child with potential adopters.

If adoption is being considered, it’s important to know:

Legal aid may be available to help you challenge the adoption - even if your child has already been removed from your care.
Adoption removes all legal rights from biological parents, so it’s vital to get legal advice early.
While contact with birth parents usually ends after adoption, courts are increasingly recognising that ongoing contact may benefit the child. We can help ensure this is properly considered.

Adoption is always a last resort. If there are other safe and suitable options, such as placing your child with extended family or friends, the court may consider alternatives like Special Guardianship.

If your circumstances have changed since the care order was made, and you are now able to care for your child, we can help you present that to the court.

Adoption by a step-parent

If you are a step-parent and want to adopt your partner’s child, this may be possible. However, there may be other legal options that better suit your family’s needs. We will help you understand what’s right for your situation and guide you through the process.

What is Special Guardianship?

A Special Guardianship Order gives parental responsibility to someone who isn’t the child’s parent - such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or close family friend.

The child lives with the Special Guardian, who can make important decisions about their care.

The child’s parents usually retain parental responsibility, but the Special Guardian’s decisions can override theirs in some situations.

We can advise you on whether Special Guardianship is the right option for your family.

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