Adoption Act 2010

References to making arrangements for adoption.

4.— In this Act, references to the making of arrangements for the adoption of a child (whether a domestic adoption or an intercountry adoption) shall be read as including references to the following activities:

(a) making any agreement or arrangement for, or facilitating, the adoption or maintenance of the child by any person;

(b) initiating or taking part in any negotiations the purpose or effect of which is the making of any such agreement or arrangement;

(c) causing another person to initiate or take part in any such negotiations;

(d) offering to enter into negotiations on behalf of the child’s parents or prospective adopters for the purpose of arranging an adoption;

(e) carrying out or making any arrangement for the carrying out of an assessment of eligibility and suitability;

(f) preparing reports on assessments of eligibility and suitability;

(g) providing information, advice and counselling concerning adoption to any prospective adopters;

(h) providing information, advice and counselling concerning adoption to a mother or guardian who proposes to place a child for adoption;

(i) providing information and advice concerning the child’s medical or other status in connection with adoption;

(j) placing a child with any prospective adopters;

(k) one or more of the following:

(i) assisting—

(I) adopted persons (18 years of age or over) in tracing their birth parents or other relatives, and

(II) birth parents or other relatives (18 years of age or over) of adopted persons in tracing the adopted persons;

(ii) counselling the persons described in subparagraph (i);

(iii) mediating between adopted persons described in subparagraph (i) and birth parents or other relatives, both as described in that subparagraph.