http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/38/section/21/2022-07-01Adoption and Children Act 2002An Act to restate and amend the law relating to adoption; to make further amendments of the law relating to children; to amend section 93 of the Local Government Act 2000; and for connected purposes.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2024-05-17Expert Participation2022-07-01 Adoption and Children Act 2002s. 4AChildren and Families Act 2014s. 5s. 139(6)Adoption and Children Act 2002s. 141(7)Children, Schools and Families Act 2010Sch. 3 para. 13s. 21(8) 27s. 29(4)(b) Part 1Chapter 3211A placement order is an order made by the court authorising a local authority to place a child for adoption with any prospective adopters who may be chosen by the authority.2The court may not make a placement order in respect of a child unless—athe child is subject to a care order,bthe court is satisfied that the conditions in section 31(2) of the 1989 Act (conditions for making a care order) are met, orcthe child has no parent or guardian.3The court may only make a placement order if, in the case of each parent or guardian of the child, the court is satisfied—athat the parent or guardian has consented to the child being placed for adoption with any prospective adopters who may be chosen by the local authority and has not withdrawn the consent, orbthat the parent’s or guardian’s consent should be dispensed with.This subsection is subject to section 52 (parental etc. consent).4A placement order continues in force until—ait is revoked under section 24,ban adoption order is made in respect of the child, orcthe child marries , forms a civil partnership or attains the age of 18 years.“Adoption order” includes a Scottish or Northern Irish adoption order.S. 21(4)(b) applied (with modifications) (30.12.2005) by The Adoptions with a Foreign Element Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/392), regs. 1(1), 11(1)(c), 52, 55S. 21 restricted by 1978 c. 28, s. 16(3D) (as inserted (30.12.2005) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), s. 148(1), Sch. 3 para. 23 (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.S.I. 2005/643, art. 2(c))S. 21 in force at 30.12.2005 by S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(c) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2005/2897, arts. 3-16)Words in s. 21(4)(c) inserted (30.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 79(2), 263(2); S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(9)