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The adoption process - eligibility, assessment, adoption agencies, adoption court orders, overseas adoptions and the rights of birth parents.
To be adopted, a child must: be under the age of 18 when the adoption…
To adopt a child you can go through either: an adoption agency that’s part…
Once the agency gets your application it will do the following: Invite you…
To make an adoption legal, you need to apply for an adoption court order.…
You need to tell your local council if you want to adopt your spouse’s or…
You can adopt a child from overseas if: they cannot be cared for in a safe…
For another couple (or person) to adopt your child, you normally have to…
Your Statutory Adoption Pay and Leave - what you get, how to claim and eligibility
When you take time off to adopt a child or have a child through a…
Statutory Adoption Leave is 52 weeks. It’s made up of: 26 weeks of…
Statutory Adoption Pay is paid for up to 39 weeks. The weekly amount is:…
There are different eligibility rules for leave and pay. Adoption leave To…
The rules are slightly different if you’re adopting from overseas or…
If you were adopted you can access your birth records or get on the Adoption Contact Register to find birth relatives - how to apply, forms and information for birth relatives
You can access your birth records if you don’t have them because you were…
You can add yourself to the Adoption Contact Register at the General…
You can use an intermediary agency to help you trace a birth relative if…
Apply to adopt a child through your local council if you are 21 or over and can offer a stable home to a child
Use this form to apply to adopt a child who lives in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
How adoption agencies should handle applications from people wishing to adopt a child from another country.
Work out your Statutory Adoption Leave dates - Ordinary and Additional Adoption Leave period, notice period and earliest start date
How to register an overseas adoption in the Adopted Children Register.
Local authorities and regional adoption agencies can apply for therapeutic funding for eligible adoptive, special guardianship order and child arrangement order families.
What to do if you are planning to adopt a child in the Philippines.
What to do if you are planning to adopt a child in China.
Use form SC6 if you're an employee, are adopting a child from abroad and need to claim Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) and Leave.
Complete the application form to order a copy of an adoption certificate registered in England and Wales.
Forms relating to adoption, including those to request adoption, placement and parental orders.
The government's strategy to deliver excellence in adoption services across England.
Employer guide to Statutory Adoption Pay and Leave - entitlement, eligibility, notice period, proof of adoption, recover statutory pay
Manually calculate if your payroll software or GOV.UK calculator does not calculate your employee’s payments.
Fostering or adopting a child, including from abroad, and being a surrogate mother
Checklist detailing the paperwork adoption agencies must include in intercountry adoption applications they submit to DfE.
Application form to request information that we hold on individuals.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
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