Adoption

• For legal advice, consult a lawyer. Court staff cannot offer legal advice or help you with your legal options

• You must complete the forms yourself. If you need help, you must get legal advice

• This leaflet does not cover adopting children from overseas. For advice on adopting a child from outside the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man, contact Fostering Adoption Jersey at the Children Service (phone: 443970) 

• If a child has already been adopted from overseas, you can apply to the Court for a declaration that the adoption is recognized as an overseas adoption

• Step-parents should consider applying for a residence order, which gives parental responsibility, instead of an adoption order. Consult a lawyer for advice

• The Court will consider the child's wishes and feelings about the adoption, taking into account their age and understanding

• A child aged 14 or older must agree in writing to the adoption, unless the Court decides the child cannot give agreement

Individual Applicants: 

• You can apply if you live permanently in the British Isles and: 

• You are the child's mother or father

• You are a relative of the child and at least 20 years old 

• You are not a relative and at least 25 years old

Joint Applicants: 

• Two people can apply together if one of them lives permanently in the British Isles and they are: 

• Married to each other

• In a civil partnership with each other

• Living together in a long-term relationship (same or different genders), but not related (e.g., not parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt, or uncle)

Married or Civil Partnership Couples: 

• A married couple or civil partners can apply together if one of them lives permanently in the British Isles and: 

• One of them is the child's mother or father

• One of them is a relative of the child and at least 20 years old, and the other is also at least 20 years old

• Neither is a relative, one is at least 25 years old, and the other is at least 20 years old

Note: "Domicile" means the place where you have your permanent home. If you are unsure if you meet these conditions, seek legal advice. 

1. Application Form: Complete Form 1 and provide 3 copies

2. Child's Birth Certificate: If the child was previously adopted, provide a certified copy from the Adopted Children Register

3. Marriage/Civil Partnership Certificate: If you are married or in a civil partnership, provide a certified copy

4. Medical Reports: 

• • For the applicants (use Form 3 if needed), unless one applicant is the child's mother or father

  • For the child (use Form 4 if needed), unless one applicant is the child's mother or father

Additional Documents (Depending on Circumstances):

1. Placement/Freeing Order: If the child has been placed or freed for adoption by a Court, provide a certified copy

2. Dispensing with Consent: If you need to dispense with a parent's or guardian's consent, provide a sworn statement of facts and 3 copies

3. Death Certificate: If your spouse or civil partner has died, provide a certified copy

4. Divorce/Dissolution Documents: If you are divorced or your civil partnership has been dissolved, provide the relevant decree or order

5. Consent to Adoption (Form 6): If signed before the proceedings, file it with Form 1. Follow Rule 6 for attestation

6. Previous Court Orders: If you were involved in any proceedings related to the child, provide copies of final orders and any maintenance orders or agreements

7. Sibling Orders: Provide copies of any final orders related to the child's siblings

8. Spouse/Civil Partner Agreement (Form 5A): Provide their agreement to the adoption

9. Adopting Without Spouse/Civil Partner Consent: Indicate this on Form 1, specify the grounds, and provide your marriage/civil partnership certificate and a sworn statement with supporting evidence. If you need to ask the Court to dispense with consent later, submit a written request with reasons and a sworn statement of facts

10. Child's Agreement (Form 5): If the child is 14 or older, provide their agreement