Written by Emily Boardman
Most adopters do not need legal advice at any stage of the process, but there are some issues you could come across that do require legal advice.
My name is Emily Boardman and I am a solicitor who specialises in adoption law. I am going to be writing a series of articles that deal with the most common questions I get asked. My articles will give you a basic explanation of the issues and help you to identify when you might need more specialist advice, or even representation.
I have been a family lawyer for 25 years and deal with care proceedings (which is the process of removing children from their birth families through the courts) and other complex litigation involving children. I have also been a board member for Adoption UK, and I advise adoption (and fostering) agencies as well as providing services to their adopters and foster carers.
Adoption legal issues series
I will be writing an article each month for We Made a Wish Adoption and Parenting Magazine, and I am happy to answer questions that readers may have.
I will initially deal with applications made by the birth family that can slow down, or even stop, the process of introductions and adoption.
An application to revoke the placement order is made by the birth family before the child moves to your care. It is an application often made at the last minute, so it would stop the introduction process and placement until it is resolved.
An application for leave to oppose the making of the adoption order is an application made by the birth family when you make your application for an adoption order. It is them asking the court to give them permission (leave) to run a case opposing the making of the adoption order.
I will look at the subject of post-adoption contact in my third article and then deal with the question of your role as adopters in these applications in my fourth article.
Early permanence from a legal point of view will be the subject of my fifth article, and then applying to adopt without the support of the Local Authority.
Finally, I will explore revocation of adoption orders.
If anyone has other specific topics they would like me to deal with, please do get in touch.
In the meantime, you can find out more about me on my website.
Head to the adoption section to read more articles about the process and interviews sharing experiences.
