The Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987

Adoption by one person

15.—(1) An adoption order may be made on the application of one person where he has attained the age of 21 years and—

(a) is not married, or

(b) is married and the court is satisfied that—

(i) his spouse cannot be found, or

(ii) the spouses have separated and are living apart, and the separation is likely to be permanent, or

(ii) his spouse is by reason of ill-health, whether physical or mental, incapable of making an application for an adoption order.

(2) An adoption order shall not be made on the application of one person unless he is domiciled in a part of the United Kingdom, or in any of the Channel Islands or in the Isle of Man.

(3) An adoption order shall not be made on the application of the mother or father of the child alone unless the court is satisfied that—

(a) the other natural parent is dead or cannot be found, or

(b) there is some other reason justifying the exclusion of the other natural parent,

and where such an order is made the reason justifying the exclusion of the other natural parent shall be recorded by the court.

(4) If the applicant is a step-parent of the child the court shall dismiss the application if it considers the matter would be better dealt with under Article 45 (orders for custody, etc.) of the Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978(1).

(1)

1978 NI 15