- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).
(1)This section applies where—
(a)a child is placed for adoption by an adoption agency under section 19, and
(b)consent to placement under that section has been withdrawn,
unless an application is, or has been, made for a placement order and the application has not been disposed of.
(2)If a parent or guardian of the child informs the agency that he wishes the child to be returned to him—
(a)the agency must give notice of the parent’s or guardian’s wish to the prospective adopters, and
(b)the prospective adopters must return the child to the agency within the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the notice is given.
(3)A prospective adopter who fails to comply with subsection (2)(b) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.
(4)As soon as a child is returned to an adoption agency under this section, the agency must return the child to the parent or guardian in question.
(5)Where a notice under subsection (2) is given, but—
(a)before the notice was given, an application for an adoption order (including a Scottish or Northern Irish adoption order), special guardianship order or residence order, or for leave to apply for a special guardianship order or residence order, was made in respect of the child, and
(b)the application (and, in a case where leave is given on an application to apply for a special guardianship order or residence order, the application for the order) has not been disposed of,
the prospective adopters are not required by virtue of the notice to return the child to the agency unless the court so orders.
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: