http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1987/2203/article/21/made

The Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987

Adoption

Child protection

Children in care

Child care

Couples

Government Printer for Northern Ireland

2016-10-27

NORTHERN IRELAND

This Order—imposes on each Health and Social Services Board the duty to provide an adoption service for its area;makes new provision relating to the registration of adoption societies;places certain restrictions on arranging adoptions and placing children for adoption;makes provision to enable children to be freed for adoption with or without parental agreement;makes provision for the care and protection of children awaiting adoption;sets out the status of adopted children;makes provision for the registration of adoption orders;makes provision for adopted adults to obtain access to their birth records; andallows for the introduction of schemes for the payment of allowances to adopters and prospective adopters in certain circumstances.