If your answer to either of these two questions is ‘no’ then you will not be eligible to adopt right now – but please do take the opportunity to find out as much as possible in preparation for when you become eligible.Are you aged 21 or over? Yes No Adopters need to be over 21 but there is no upper age limit. We will expect you to have the health and vitality to see your children through to an age of independence.You will need to come back when you are both over the age of 21.Have you lived in the UK for the last 12 months? Yes No You do not have to be a British citizen to adopt a child, but: you (or your partner, if you’re a couple) must have a fixed and permanent home in the UK you (and your partner, if you’re a couple) must have lived in the UK for at least one year before you begin the application process You need to have been a UK resident for the last 12 months before you begin the application process. You must also have a fixed and permanent home in the UK. Are you and your partner in a relationship and living together as a family? Yes No It is important for you and your partner to give your relationship time to become established and for family bonds to be formed before you apply to adopt. You do not need to be married but you have to be living together for six months before you apply to adopt. However, some courts are reluctant to consider applications from people who have been together for less than a year. If you are not living together, it is not possible to make an application. In order to apply you must have been living together for at least six months and able to evidence an established relationship. However, some courts are reluctant to consider applications from people who have been together for less than a year. Has the child’s step-parent been living with you and the child/ren for six months or more? Yes No The child must have been living with you and your partner for six months. However, the court will want to ensure there is stability in your relationship and your relationship with the child. However, some courts are reluctant to consider applications from people who have been together for less than a year.The court will not consider applications where the stepparent has not been living with the child and partner for over six months. However, some courts are reluctant to consider applications from people who have been together for less than a year. Have you informed the child/ren of your intention to adopt? Yes No When reaching your decision to adopt you should take the child’s views seriously as the court will. The law says that the child’s own feeling must be considered. It will depend on the child’s age of course, but children of five years and even younger can be old enough to have some understanding of what adoption will mean for them.If you have not informed or told your child/ren then this must be seriously considered and discussed with the child/ren before making an application. There are useful books on the website for giving guidance how to discuss adoption with a child. If you are unsure, please contact the Advice and Support line for guidance. The SW undertaking the assessment will need to talk to the child/ren to obtain their views for the court. Have you informed any other children living in the home of your intention to adopt? Yes No The report to the court will consider views of significant relationships for the child concerned. Views of other children will be age appropriate. It will depend on the child’s age of course, but children of five years and even younger can be old enough to have some understanding of what adoption will mean for them.We advise you to take time to discuss and consider the impact and views of the other children living in the household. The court will want the views to be considered and reported. Have you informed any other children, including adult children, living elsewhere of your intention to adopt? Yes No The report to the court will consider views of significant relationships for the child concerned. Views of other children will be age appropriate. It will depend on the child’s age of course, but children of five years and even younger can be old enough to have some understanding of what adoption will mean for them.We advise you to take time to discuss and consider the impact and views of the other children living in the household. The court will want the views to be considered and reported. It is important to share as the adoption order children share rights of inheritance with any other child in the family. Are you still seeing your child/ren from a previous relationship? Yes No The report to the court will consider views of significant relationships for the child concerned. Views of other children will be age appropriate. It will depend on the child’s age of course, but children of five years and even younger can be old enough to have some understanding of what adoption will mean for them.The court will want to understand why you are not seeing your own birth child/ren and the stability for you maintaining contact if you separate from the birth parent of the child you are applying to adopt. Is the child you are hoping to adopt still seeing the non-resident parent? Yes No The court is unlikely to make an order where the absent parent is continuing to have a relationship with the child/ren. Adoption severs the legal link with the birth parent and the court would therefore be unlikely to sever this link. An adopted child will lose any entitlements to maintenance and inheritance from the other birth parent or that partners family such as grandparents. This might not seem important at this time but could matter a great deal if your family had financial problems later, or if both of you were to die while your child was still dependent. The court will expect the absent parent to be contacted to obtain their views and be invited to attend court. The court can consider making other appropriate orders including contact with the absent birth parent. Have you considered other alternative orders? Yes No Parental responsibility or a child arrangement order may suit your family’s needs without severing the links with the absent parent. Your child/ren may in the future wish to resume a relationship with the absent parent. Even if you decide to ask the court to make an adoption order, the court may decide it may be better for the child to make a different order or no order instead. That might leave you or the child disappointed this is why it is another reason to consider before taking this important step.Parental responsibility or a child arrangement order may suit your family’s needs without severing the links with the absent parent. Your child/ren may in the future wish to resume a relationship with the absent parent. Even if you decide to ask the court to make an adoption order, the court may decide it may be better for the child to make a different order or no order instead. That might leave you or the child disappointed this is why it is another reason to consider before taking this important step. Have you sought independent legal advice? Yes No Then you will have been given advice regarding the most appropriate order for your family and that adoption is right for you to consider at this time.Where your situation may have complexity it can be important to check these out before you make an application. Have you informed the absent birth parent of your intention to adopt? Yes No This is good as the court will expect the absent parent to be notified and their views obtained. This gives you both an opportunity to discuss and explore whether this is the right option.You should where possible make contact with the absent parent to inform them of your intention. However, if you are not able to because you do not know where they are living or where there are risks to yourself or the child this will be considered by the court. The court do expect the absent parent to be contacted and have ways of locating the absent parent. Have you informed grandparents or other relatives of your intention to adopt? Yes No The court will want to understand the nature of the relationship with the extended family and will want to consider the impact of an adoption order on these relationships. An adopted child will lose any entitlements to maintenance and inheritance from the other birth parent or that partner’s family such as grandparents. This might not seem important at this time but could matter a great deal if your family had financial problems later, or if both of you were to die while your child was still dependent.The court will want to understand the nature of the relationship with the extended family and will want to consider the impact of an adoption order on these relationships. An adopted child will lose any entitlements to maintenance and inheritance from the other birth parent or that partner’s family such as grandparents. This might not seem important at this time but could matter a great deal if your family had financial problems later, or if both of you were to die while your child was still dependent.NameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ