Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978
1978 CHAPTER 28
An Act to consolidate the enactments relating to adoption in Scotland with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission.
[20th July 1978]

Part I The Adoption Service

The Adoption Service

1 Establishment of Adoption Service.
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2 Local authorities’ social work.
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Adoption societies

3 Approval of adoption societies.
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4 Withdrawal of approval.
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5 Procedure on refusal to approve, or withdrawal of approval from, adoption societies.
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Welfare of children

6 Duty to promote welfare of child.
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6A Duty to consider alternatives to adoption.
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7 Religious upbringing of adopted child.
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Supplemental

8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9 Regulation of adoption agencies.
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10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11 Restriction on arranging adoptions and placing of children.
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Act repealed (except Pt. IV) (28.9.2009) by Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 4), s. 121(2), sch. 3 (with savings by The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Provisions) (No. 1) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/2233), art. 2); S.S.I. 2009/267, arts. 1(2), 2 (with arts. 3-21) (as amended (7.5.2012) by S.S.I. 2012/99, art. 2)

Part II Adoption Orders

The making of adoption orders

12 Adoption orders.
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13 Child to live with adopters before order made.
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14 Adoption by married couple.
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15 Adoption by one person.
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16 Parental agreement.
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17 Convention adoption orders.
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Freeing for adoption

18 Freeing child for adoption.
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19 Progress reports to former parent.
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20 Revocation of s. 18 order.
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21 Variation of section 18 order so as to substitute one adoption agency for another.
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Supplemental

22 Notification to local authority of adoption application.
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22A Children subject to supervision requirements.
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23 Reports where child placed by agency.
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24 Restrictions on making adoption orders.
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25 Interim orders.
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25A Timetable for resolving question as to whether agreement to adoption order etc. should be dispensed with.
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26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part III Care and Protection of Children Awaiting Adoption

Restrictions on removal of children

27 Restrictions on removal where adoption agreed or application made under s. 18.
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28 Restrictions on removal where applicant has provided home for 5 years.
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29 Return of child taken away in breach of s. 27 or 28.
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29A Contravention of sections 30 to 36 of Adoption and Children Act 2002
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30 Return of children placed for adoption by adoption agencies.
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31 Application of s. 30 where child not placed for adoption.
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Protected children

32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Part IV Status of Adopted Children

38 Meaning of “adoption order”: in Part IV.
(1) In this Part “adoption order” means—
(a) an adoption order within the meaning of section 65(1);
(b) an adoption order under the Children Act 1975, the Adoption Act 1958, the Adoption Act 1950 or any enactment repealed by the Adoption Act 1950;
1975 c. 72.
1958 c. 5 (7 & 8 Eliz. 2).
1950 c. 26.
(c) an order effecting an adoption made in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands;
(cc) a Convention adoption;
S. 38(1)(cc) inserted (1.6.2003) by Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999 (c. 18), ss. 5(1), 18(3) (with s. 17); S.S.I. 2003/121, art. 2(c)
(d) an “overseas adoption”: within the meaning of section 65(2); or
(e) any other adoption recognised by the law of Scotland;
and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.
(2) The definition of adoption order includes, where the context admits, an adoption order which took effect before the commencement of the Children Act 1975.
1975 c. 72.

39 Status conferred by adoption.
(1) A child who is the subject of an adoption order shall be treated in law—
(a) where the adopters are a married couple, as if—
(i) he had been born as a... child of the marriage (whether or not he was in fact born after the marriage was constituted); and
Word in s. 39(1) repealed (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 2), s. 46(2), sch. 3; S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2
(ii) subject to subsection (2A) he were not the child of any person other than the adopters;
Words in s. 39(1) inserted (1.6.2003) by Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999 (c. 18), ss. 5(2), 18(3) (with s. 17); S.S.I. 2003/121, art. 2(c)
(b) where the adoption order is made by virtue of section 15(1)(aa) as if—
(i) he had been born as a ... child of the marriage between the adopter and the natural parent to whom the adopter is married (whether or not he was in fact born after the marriage was constituted); and
(ii) subject to subsection (2A) he were not the child of any person other than the adopter and that natural parent; and
(c) in any other case, as if—
(i) he had been born as a ... child of the adopter; and
(ii) subject to subsection (2A) he were not the child of any person other than the adopter.
S. 39(1) substituted (1.4.1997) by 1995 c. 36, s. 97(3) (with s. 103(1)); S.I. 1996/3201, art. 3(7) (as amended by S.I. 1997/744, arts. 2, 3)
(2) Where a child has been adopted by one of his natural parents as sole adoptive parent and the adopter thereafter marries the other natural parent, subsection (1) shall not affect any enactment or rule of law whereby, by virtue of the marriage, the child is rendered the ... child of both natural parents.
Word in s. 39(2) substituted by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8), ss. 10(1), 11(4), Sch. 1 para. 18(2)
Word in s. 39(2) repealed (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 2), s. 46(2), sch. 3; S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2
(2A) Where, in the case of a child adopted under a Convention adoption, the Court of Session is satisfied, on an application under this subsection—
(a) that under the law of the country in which the adoption was effected the adoption is not a full adoption;
(b) that the consents referred to in Article 4(c) and (d) of the Convention have not been given for a full adoption, or that the United Kingdom is not the receiving State (within the meaning of Article 2 of the Convention); and
(c) that it would be more favourable to the child for a direction to be given under this subsection,
the Court may direct that sub-paragraph (ii) of, as the case may be, paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (1) shall not apply, or shall not apply to such extent as may be specified in the direction: and in this subsection “full adoption” means an adoption by virtue of which the child falls to be treated in law as if he were not the child of any person other than the adopters or adopter.
S. 39(2A) inserted (1.6.2003) by Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999 (c. 18), ss. 5(3), 18(3) (with s. 17); S.S.I. 2003/121, art. 2(c)
(3) This section has effect—
(a) in the case of an adoption before 1st January 1976, from that date, and
(b) in the case of any other adoption, from the date of the adoption.
(4) Subject to the provisions of this Part, this section—
(a) applies for the construction of enactments or instruments passed or made before or after the commencement of this Act so far as the context admits; and
(b) does not affect things done or events occurring before the adoption or, where the adoption took place before 1st January 1976, before that date.
(5) This section has effect subject to the provisions of section 44.

40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 40 repealed by British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61, SIF 87), Sch. 9

41 Miscellaneous enactments.
(1) Section 39 does not apply in determining the forbidden degrees of consanguinity and affinity in respect of the law relating to marriage , to the eligibility of persons to register as civil partners of each other or in respect of the crime of incest, except that, on the making of an adoption order, the adopter and the child shall be deemed, for all time coming, to be within the said forbidden degrees in respect of the law relating to marriage , to such eligibility and to incest.
Words in s. 41(1) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 86(10)(a), 263(3); S.S.I. 2005/604, art. 2(b)
Words in s. 41(1) substituted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 86(10)(b), 263(3); S.S.I. 2005/604, art. 2(b)
(2) . . . section 39 does not apply for the purposes of any provision of—
(a) the British Nationality Act 1981,
Words substituted by British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61, SIF 87), s. 52(6), Sch. 7
(b) the Immigration Act 1971,
1971 c. 77
(c) any instrument having effect under an enactment within paragraph (a) or (b), or
(d) any other law for the time being in force which determines British citizenship, British Dependent Territories citizenship , the status of a British National (Overseas) or British Overseas citizenship.
Words substituted by British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61, SIF 87), s. 52(6), Sch. 7
Words inserted by S.I. 1986/948, art. 8, Sch.
Words repealed by British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61, SIF 87), s. 52(8), Sch. 9
(3)–(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 41(3)–(5) repealed by Social Security Act 1988 (c. 7, SIF 113:1), ss. 16, 19(3), Sch. 5

42 Pensions.
Section 39(1) does not affect entitlement to a pension which is payable to or for the benefit of a child and is in payment at the time of his adoption.

43 Insurance.
Where a child is adopted whose natural parent has effected an insurance with a friendly society or a collecting society or an industrial insurance company for the payment on the death of the child of money for funeral expenses, the rights and liabilities under the policy shall by virtue of the adoption be transferred to the adoptive parents who shall for the purposes of the enactments relating to such societies and companies be treated as the person who took out the policy.

44 Effect of s. 39 on succession and inter vivos deed.
Section 39 (status conferred by adoption) does not affect the existing law relating to adopted persons in respect of—
(a) the succession to a deceased person (whether testate or intestate), and
(b) the disposal of property by virtue of any inter vivos deed.

Part V Registration and Revocation of Adoption Orders and Convention Adoptions

45 Adopted Children Register.
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46 Revocation of adoptions on legitimation.
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47 Annulment etc. of overseas adoptions.
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48 Provisions supplementary to ss. 46(2) and 47.
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Part VI Miscellaneous and Supplemental

49 Adoption of children abroad.
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50 Restriction on removal of children for adoption outside Great Britain.
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50A Restriction on bringing children into the United Kingdom for adoption
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51 Prohibition on certain payments.
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51A Adoption allowances schemes.
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51B Transitional provisions as respects adoption allowances.
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52 Restriction on advertisements.
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53 Effect of determination and orders made in England and Wales and overseas in adoption proceedings.
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53A Effect of certain orders made in England and Wales
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53B Effect of placing for adoption etc. under Adoption and Children Act 2002
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53C Further consequences of placement and placement orders
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54 Evidence of adoption in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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55 Evidence of agreement and consent.
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56 Courts.
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57 Proceedings to be in private.
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58 Curators ad litem and reporting officers.
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59 Rules of procedure.
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60 Orders, rules and regulations.
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61 Offences by bodies corporate.
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62 Service of notices etc.
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63 Nationality.
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64 Internal law of a country.
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65 Interpretation.
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66 Transitional provisions, amendments and repeals.
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67 Short title, commencement and extent.
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SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 Registration of Adoptions
Section 45.

Registration of adoption orders
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Registration of adoptions in England, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Registration of foreign adoptions
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amendment of orders and rectification of registers
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marking of entries on re-registration of birth
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cancellations in registers on legitimation
6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SCHEDULE 2 Transitional Provisions and Savings
Section 66.

General
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Existing adoption orders
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Payments relating to adoptions
6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Registers of adoptions
7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Commencement of Act
8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SCHEDULE 3 Consequential Amendments
Section 66.

Children Act 1958 (c. 65)
1—3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Legitimation (Scotland Act 1968 (c. 22)
6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (c. 49)
8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Children Act 1975 (c. 72)
16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SCHEDULE 4 REPEALS
Section 66.

Act not in force at Royal Assent; wholly in force at 1.2.1985
Power to amend Act conferred (5.7.1994) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (c. 37, SIF 83:1), s. 30(9)(10) (with ss. 39(3), 43(2)); S.I. 1994/1776, art. 2(1)
Act modified (1.11.1994) by S.I. 1994/2804, art. 2, Sch. 1
Act: power to modify conferred (1.10.2009) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (c. 22), ss. 55, 68(2); S.I. 2009/2232, art. 2(q)
Part IV (meaning of "adopted ") applied (5.4.1993) by Child Support Act 1991 (SIF 20, c. 48), s. 26(3) (with s. 9(2)); S.I. 1992/2644, art.2
Pt. IV applied (28.9.2009) by Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 4), ss. 39(3), 121(2); S.S.I. 2009/267, arts. 1(2), 2 (with arts. 3-21) (as amended (7.5.2012) by S.S.I. 2012/99, art. 2)
S. 39 modified (21.12.2018) by The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1412), reg. 1(2), Sch. 4 para. 7
S. 41(1) modified (21.12.2018) by The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1412), reg. 1(2), Sch. 4 para. 8
S. 44 modified (21.12.2018) by The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1412), reg. 1(2), Sch. 4 para. 9