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Step-parent adoption
Step-parent adoption
Step-parent adoption gives the child a legally permanent relationship with you, as the adoptive parent. You and your partner, the child’s birth parent, share parental responsibility for the child and the legal links with the child’s other birth parent ends.
If you wish to become the legal parent of your partner’s child you can apply to a court for an Adoption Order under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, but the child must have lived with you continuously for at least 6 months and you must be at least 21 years old.
You will need to discuss your intentions to adopt with a member of the Adoption Team in Kingston and you must give us three months notice before you can actually submit your application to the court. If you live outside of the Borough you should approach the local authority in which you reside.
The Adoption Worker will offer you advice and will need to interview you, your partner, and if possible, the other birth parent. They may also wish to interview grandparents or other significant relatives. Depending on age, they will also try to ascertain the views and feelings of the child and any other children in the household.
The Adoption Worker must prepare a report for the court and make recommendations. The court will decide whether adoption, one of the alternatives, or perhaps no change, is in the best interests of the child.
Details of the legal processes involved in step-parent adoption and where to get further information are contained in our supporting document: Factsheet 2 Step-Parent Adoption (see below).
BAAF (British Association for Adoption and Fostering) also produces a useful leaflet on step-parent adoption. You can visit their website at: Website: www.baaf.org.uk
You can also request a copy from us or arrange a step-parent interview by contacting us (details below):
Telephone: 020 8547 5004
Email: adoption@rbk.kingston.gov.uk