Private adoption

The most likely circumstances for private adoption would be when a child is already living with you. This could be an adoption with an inter-country element or an adoption by a family member or a foster carer.

Notification of intention to adopt must be given to the local authority at least three months before you apply to the court.

You may want to consider other options such as Residence Order or Special Guardianship Order.

In private adoption applications there are conditions about the length of time the child has resided with the applicants:

• If the applicant is a foster carer the child must have lived with them for at least one year
• In other circumstances the child must have lived with the applicants for three out of the previous five years but not necessarily continuously.

A full assessment of your situation will need to be undertaken by social workers which will include full medical checks on the adults and the child (for which there will be a charge).