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)