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The adoption process - eligibility, assessment, adoption agencies, adoption court orders, overseas adoptions and the rights of birth parents.

• Overview

  To be adopted, a child must: be under the age of 18 when the adoption…

• Early stages of adoption

  To adopt a child you can go through either: an adoption agency that’s part…

• Adoption assessment

  Once the agency gets your application it will do the following: Invite you…

• Applying for an adoption court order

  To make an adoption legal, you need to apply for an adoption court order.…

• Adopting a stepchild

  You need to tell your local council if you want to adopt your spouse’s or…

• Adopting a child from overseas

  You can adopt a child from overseas if: they cannot be cared for in a safe…

• Birth parents: your rights

  For another couple (or person) to adopt your child, you normally have to…

How and when to report changes that affect your Child Benefit payments, such as earnings going above £60,000. How to update a change of address or bank details.

• If your child’s circumstances change

  Report any changes that could affect your Child Benefit to HM Revenue and…

• If your circumstances change or you need to update your details

  Report any changes that could affect your Child Benefit. If you do not,…

Form to claim extra benefit or tax credits for a child conceived without your consent, if they are your third or subsequent child.

The steps you must take when someone dies - register a death, report a death with Tell Us Once, coroners, funerals and death abroad.

Find out how to apply to become a child's special guardian.

You can use this template best interest statement when applying to enrol a deed poll to change a child's name.

Guidance and forms for claiming Child Benefit. Including how to claim, Guardians Allowance, payment dates, repaying overpayments, reporting changes, and complaints.

• Updated: 12 February 2024

Information about Universal Credit for families with more than 2 children.

• Updated: 5 March 2021

Estimate the Child Benefit you've received and your High Income Child Benefit tax charge

These statistics provide detailed annual estimates of the number of families and children claiming Child Benefit on 31 August of the year of analysis.

• Updated: 23 April 2025