National Adoption Law Experts
Adoption can be a wonderful and rewarding experience when it works well, but occasionally it can go wrong. Ridley & Hall offers specialist advice on various issues relating to adoption. Our adoption lawyers can advise on:
- Adoption Breakdown
- Adoption Support
- Adoption Allowances
- Adoption applications. This could include applications from foster carers, step-parents, and prospective adopters.
Our team can also provide advice on how to protect your adoptive child’s inheritance should anything happen to you before your child reaches 18 years old. We can advise you on the legal options available to you.
What Happens When an Adoption Breaks Down?
Adoption can be incredibly satisfying for families who choose to adopt, providing a child with the stability and care that unfortunately has not always been readily available.
The majority of children currently placed for adoption have become subjects of a placement order in care proceedings. Many of these children carry emotional baggage stemming from the difficult start they’ve had in life.
Some adoptive parents face unexpected challenges, such as children with attachment issues who can place an enormous strain on the placement. Our Adoption breakdown solicitors understand the difficulties and challenges that adoptive parents may encounter. We can provide guidance on the available options, including obtaining appropriate support or requesting that your child be accommodated by the Local Authority.
In certain situations, a child being accommodated can lead to the Local Authority initiating care proceedings. We represent adoptive parents within those proceedings. For further information on care proceedings, please refer to our section on care proceedings.
Support for Adoptive Parents and Adopted Children
We understand that not all adoptions are straightforward.
When a child has been placed for adoption, they have usually experienced early-life trauma before being placed with prospective adopters. In some situations, adoptive children require ongoing support throughout their childhood to address their needs. If you or your child are not receiving support from either your Local Authority or your Adoption Agency, we can provide guidance in this regard.
We can offer advice on both financial and practical support available to adoptive parents and their families.
Applying for An Adoption Court Order
Our Adoption Team offers guidance to clients on the various pathways to obtaining an Adoption Order.
If a child has been placed with you for adoption purposes, we can assist you through the adoption proceedings. When an adoption application is submitted, the Court will forward a copy to the birth parents. If the birth parents intend to contest the Adoption Order, they must first seek permission from the Court. We can provide counsel on this process and represent you during these proceedings.
We also provide advice to foster carers who are contemplating applying for the adoption of the children they currently foster.
If you are interested in adopting your partner’s children, we can assist you with this process. Please refer to our case study below for more information on this matter.
Adoption Case Studies
Step Parent adoption: what you need to know about adopting a stepchild
Are you considering adopting your partner’s child but don’t know what this means? Are you not sure about the adoption […]
Step Parents – Know Your Rights
It is common these days for parents to marry or enter into long-term relationships with someone who is not their […]
Children of Domestic Abuse Victims at Risk
A report by the Family Rights Group has highlighted the need for mothers facing domestic violence to get urgent skilled […]
Adoption Legal Centre attend sold out Adoption UK Annual Conference
Sarah Brown and Nigel Priestley from Ridley & Hall went to a packed Adoption UK AGM and Conference in Birmingham […]
