Statutory Instrument 1987 No. 2203 (N.I. 22)

      The Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987


      © Crown Copyright 1987

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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS

1987 No. 2203 (N.I. 22)

NORTHERN IRELAND

The Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987

To be laid before Parliament in draft

Made 18th December 1987
Coming into operation on days to be appointed under Article 1(2)


ARRANGEMENT OF ORDER

PART I
INTRODUCTORY
1.  Title and commencement.
2.  Interpretation.
PART II
ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADOPTION
The Adoption Service
3.  The Adoption Service.
Adoption societies
4.  Registration of adoption societies.
5.  Cancellation of registration.
6.  Procedure and right of appeal where registration refused or cancelled.
7.  Inspection of books, etc., of registered adoption societies.
8.  Inactive or defunct adoption societies.
Welfare of children
9.  Duty to promote welfare of child.
Supplemental
10.  Regulation of adoption agencies.
11.  Restriction on arranging adoptions and placing children.
PART III
ADOPTION ORDERS
The making of adoption orders
12.  Adoption orders.
13.  Child to live with adopters before order made.
14.  Adoption by married couple.
15.  Adoption by one person.
16.  Parental agreement.
Freeing for adoption
17.  Freeing child for adoption with parental agreement.
18.  Freeing child for adoption without parental agreement.
19.  Progress reports to former parent.
20.  Revocation of order freeing child for adoption.
21.  Transfer of parental rights and duties between adoption agencies.
Supplemental
22.  Notification to Board of adoption application, where child not placed by adoption agency.
23.  Enquiries to be made of Board, where child is to be placed by registered adoption society.
24.  Reports to court where child placed by agency.
25.  Restrictions on making adoption orders.
26.  Interim orders.
27.  Care, etc., of child on refusal of adoption order.
PART IV
CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AWAITING ADOPTION
Restrictions on removal of children
28.  Restrictions on removal where adoption agreed or application made under Article 17(1) or 18(1).
29.  Restrictions on removal where applicant has provided home for 5 years.
30.  Return of child taken away in breach of Article 28 or 29.
31.  Return of children placed for adoption by adoption agencies.
32.  Application of Article 31 where child not placed for adoption.
Protected children
33.  Meaning of "protected child".
34.  Duty of Boards to secure well-being of protected children.
35.  Removal of protected children from unsuitable surroundings.
36.  Notices and information to be given to Boards.
37.  Offences relating to protected children.
38.  Miscellaneous provisions relating to protected children.
PART V
STATUS OF ADOPTED CHILDREN
39.  Meaning of "adoption" in Part V.
40.  Status conferred by adoption.
41.  Adoptive relatives.
42.  Rules of construction for instruments concerning property.
43.  Dispositions depending on date of birth.
44.  Property devolving with peerages, etc.
45.  Protection of trustees and personal representatives.
46.  Meaning of "disposition".
47.  Miscellaneous.
48.  Pensions.
49.  Insurance.
PART VI
REGISTRATION, AMENDMENT AND REVOCATION OF ADOPTION ORDERS
The Adopted Children Register
50.  Adopted Children Register.
51.  Registration or adoption orders.
52.  Amendment of orders and rectification of Registers.
53.  Registration of adoptions made outside Northern Ireland.
Disclosure of records
54.  Disclosure of birth records of adopted children.
Revocation of certain adoptions
55.  Revocation of adoptions on legitimation.
Regulations
56.  Regulations for purposes of Part VI.
PART VII
MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTAL Miscellaneous provisions
57.  Adoption by persons domiciled outside Northern Ireland.
58.  Restriction on removal of children for adoption outside Northern Ireland.
59.  Prohibition on certain payments.
60.  Restriction on advertisements.
61.  Prohibition of wrongful disclosure of information.
Evidence and procedure
62.  Evidence of agreement and consent.
63.  Evidence of adoptions, etc.
64.  Removal of proceedings and appeals.
65.  Proceedings to be in private.
66.  Guardians ad litem.
67.  Adoption rules.
Supplemental
68.  Regulations.
69.  Inquiries.
70.  Power of Department to conduct or assist research.
71.  Inspection.
72.  Transitional provisions, savings, amendments and repeals.

SCHEDULES:

  Schedule 1  —Appeal Tribunal.

  Schedule 2  —Form of entry in Adopted Children Register.

  Schedule 3  —Transitional provisions and savings.

  Schedule 4  —Amendments.

  Schedule 5  —Repeals.

 

Explanatory Note


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