Age of the Child

To be adopted a child must be under 18 and never have been married.

Where the applicant or one of them is a parent, step-parent or relative and the child has been placed by an adoption agency or as a result of a High Court Order, then the order cannot be made unless the child has lived with at least one of the applicants for at least 10 weeks before the adoption order is made.

In the case of a step-parent adoption or adoption by the partner of a natural parent the child must have been living with the applicant or one of them for at least 6 months.

In the case of adoptions involving other relatives the child's home must have been them for at least 3 years during the period of 5 years, ending with the date of the application for an adoption order.