The Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Procedural requirements following a Convention adoption order or Convention adoption – Article 23 of the Convention

20.—(1) Where a Convention adoption order is made, the court must send a copy of that adoption order to the Central Authority.

(2) On receipt of an adoption order under paragraph (1), the Central Authority must issue a certificate in the form set out in Schedule 2 certifying that the adoption has been made in accordance with the Convention.

(3) A copy of the certificate issued under paragraph (2) must be sent to–

(a) SOCA;

(b) the adoptive parents; and

(c) the adoption agency and, if different, the relevant HSS trust.

(4) Where the Central Authority receives a certificate under Article 23(1) of the Convention in respect of a Convention adoption made in that Convention country, the Central Authority must send a copy of that certificate to–

(a) the adoptive parents; and

(b) the adoption agency and, if different, the relevant HSS trust.

(1)

Article 23 provides that an adoption certificate certified by the competent authority of the State as having been made in accordance with the Convention shall be recognised by other contracting States. The certificate shall certify when and by whom the agreement that the adoption could proceed was given