Child adoption
Early stages of adoption
To adopt a child you can go through either:
- an adoption agency that’s part of your local council
- a voluntary adoption agency
The adoption process
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Contact an adoption agency - they’ll send you information about the adoption process.
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The agency will arrange to meet you - you may also be invited to a meeting with other people wanting to adopt a child.
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If you and the agency agree to carry on, the agency will give you an application form.
The adoption approval process normally takes around 6 months. You will then be matched with a child for adoption.