• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Family Law Specialists Edinburgh, Glasgow

  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Divorce & Separation
      • Collaborative Divorce
      • Divorce in Scotland
      • Expat Divorce & Separation
      • Finances
      • What should I expect?
    • Your Options
    • Children
      • Children and Divorce / Separation
      • Child Contact (Access)
      • Child Residence (Custody)
      • Modern Families
      • Parental Responsibilities and Rights
    • Modern Families
      • Fertility Fixed Fee Package
      • Assisted and Donor Conception
      • Surrogacy
      • Adoption
      • Parenthood for the Modern Family
      • Succession rights and estate planning for modern families
      • Family Friendly Employment Rights
    • Prenup & Cohab
    • Social Media Misuse
  • About Us
    • Why Us?
    • Our Experts
    • Testimonials
  • Our Costs
    • Fixed Fee Package
    • Fixed Fee Undefended Divorce
    • Fertility Fixed Fee Package
  • FAQ
  • Blog
    • Video Blogs
  • BTOyouStart
  • Contact Us

Adoption

Go to Modern Families

On this page we provide an overview of:

  • The Adoption Journey
  • The Adoption Process
  • International Adoption
  • Step-Parent Adoption

adoption

The Adoption Journey

On average there are around 4,000 children in the UK waiting at any one time to be adopted. It is a common way for couples and single parents of all make-ups to add to their family.

In Scotland, all potential adopters have to meet strict criteria for being allowed to adopt.

The overarching consideration for any adoption is what is in the best interests of the child.

The process itself is extensive and thorough. Please review the information below on the different types of adoption.

The Adoption Process

To adopt a child from within Scotland, you can do so if you meet the following criteria:

  • you are aged 21 or older (no upper age limit)
  • single or in a couple
  • a gay man or woman, either on your own or with your partner or spouse
  • a parent already or not
  • have lived in Scotland for more than a year

If you have decided that you want to adopt, you need to contact a registered adoption agency unless the child is a close relative or your step-child (for more information about step-parent adoption, click here.

The adoption agency will then check that you are a suitable candidate for adoption, called a ‘home study’. This will include checking your medical history, criminal record, finances and home. It involves a series of visits and meetings with a social worker who is allocated to your case, who will visit you and may meet with friends and family.

The agency will put your application to the Adoption Panel, who are a group of experts.

If you pass this part of the process, the agency will then take steps to try to match you with a child from Scotland’s Adoption Register.

Once a child has been placed with you and the adoption agency are happy that the match works for you and the child, they will get the court to issue an adoption order. An adoption order gives you legal guardianship of the child. This means you are now their legal parents. You will require a solicitor to do this and sometimes the local authority will agree to meet the fees for this. We can act on your behalf to do so.

International Adoption

Adopting a child from abroad is not an easy task and is especially complicated. To do so you will require to consult with a solicitor about your specific set of circumstances and the International Centre for Adoption.

If you are considering international adoption and would like legal advice based on your specific set of circumstances, please contact us.

Step-Parent Adoption

If the child is a close relative or your stepchild, you will require to notify the local authority that you want to adopt the child.

They will check your situation and when you apply to the court for an adoption order, the local authority will prepare a report for the court to assist them in making the decision of whether to grant the adoption.

We can act on your behalf to apply to the court for an adoption order. Get in Touch.

Go to Modern Families


Schedule a call back   Schedule a Call



Related Posts

Step Parent Adoption

Step Parent Adoption

With many parents and children living in blended families, a question that will often arise is whether legal steps should be taken by a step parent to adopt the child ...

Read more...
#FertilityWeek: Becoming Parents as a Male Same-Sex Couple – Your Questions Answered

#FertilityWeek: Becoming Parents as a Male Same-Sex Couple – Your Questions Answered

Becoming a dad for the first time is many things. Exciting. Moving. Nerve-wracking! And one thing it shouldn’t be is complicated. If you are in a same-sex relationship, you will ...

Read more...
Parental issues for female same sex couples

Parental issues for female same sex couples

BTO’s Lesley Gordon discusses the legal landscape surrounding parenting where the parents are female same-sex partners. Having a child can be one of the most exciting and momentous things any couple ...

Read more...
International adoptions and the UK’s regulation

International adoptions and the UK’s regulation

We discuss a recent judgement from the Court of Appeal which rejected the argument that a person adopted in France to French nationals now living in the UK was a ...

Read more...

Primary Sidebar

Modern Families – Quick Links

  • Fertility fixed fee package
  • Assisted and Donor Conception
  • Surrogacy
  • Adoption
  • Parenthood for the Modern Family
  • Parenthood for Female Same-Sex Couples
  • Parenthood for Male Same-Sex Couples
  • Parenthood for Transgender Parents
  • Parenthood for Single-Parent Families
  • Parenthood for Blended Families
  • Succession rights and estate planning for modern families
  • Family friendly employment rights

Footer

Contact Us

Edinburgh
0131 222 2959
Glasgow
0141 225 4848
Email
familylaw@bto.co.uk

About Us

We are award winning family and divorce lawyers based in Edinburgh and Glasgow and covering the whole of Scotland, including cross border issues, specialising in divorce and all aspects of child and family law. Learn More

  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

BTO Chambers top ranked logoBTO Legal 500 ranked logo

Copyright © 2021 BTO Solicitors LLP · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Notice · Cookie Policy · Terms & Conditions · Anti-Money Laundering Policy