Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Recovery by parent etc. where child placed and placement order refused

30.—(1) This section applies where—

(a) a child is placed for adoption by an adoption authority under section 16;

(b) the adoption authority has applied for a placement order and the application has been refused; and

(c) any parent or guardian (“P or G”) of the child informs the adoption authority that P or G wishes the child to return to P or G.

(2) The prospective adopters must secure the return of the child to the adoption authority on a date determined by the court.

(3) A prospective adopter who fails to comply with subsection (2) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.

(4) The adoption authority must secure the return of the child to the parent or guardian in question within the period of seven days beginning with the day on which the child returns to the adoption authority.