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  • Adoption legislation

    Topics:
    • Social Care Policy, 
    • Adoption

    Information on adoption legislation

    Legislation

    The current legislative framework for adoption, both domestic adoption and intercountry adoption, is set out within:

    • the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987
    • the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
    • the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act (Northern Ireland) 2001
    • adoption (Hague Convention) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969
    • the Adoption Agenices Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989
    • Adoption Allowances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • the Adoption of Children from Overseas Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
    • the Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003
    • the Registration of Foreign Adoptions Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003
    • the Adoption of Children from Overseas and Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006
    • the Voluntary Adoption Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010

    International Conventions

    • the united nations convention on the rights of the child (UNCRC)
    • convention on protection of children and co-operation in respect on intercountry adoption (the Hague Convention)

    Related content

    • Adoption agency contacts
    • Adoption questions and answers
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