(1)Amend the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (S.I. 1987/2203 (N.I. 22)) as follows.
(2)In Article 2 (interpretation), in the definition of “relative” in paragraph (2), for “affinity” substitute “ marriage or civil partnership ”.
(3)In Article 12 (adoption orders), in paragraph (5), after “married” insert “ or who is or has been a civil partner ”.
(4)In Article 15 (adoption by one person), in paragraph (1)(a), after “is not married” insert “ or a civil partner ”.
(5)In Article 33 (meaning of “protected child”), in paragraph (3)(g), after “marriage” insert “ or forming a civil partnership ”.
(6)In Article 40 (status conferred by adoption), in paragraph (3)(a), after “1984” insert “ or for the purposes of Schedule 12 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004 ”.
(7)In Article 54 (disclosure of birth records of adopted children), in paragraph (2)—
(a)after “intending to be married” insert “ or to form a civil partnership ”;
(b)for “the person whom he intends to marry” substitute “ the intended spouse or civil partner ”;
(c)after “1984” insert “ or Schedule 12 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004 ”.
(8)In Article 54A (Adoption Contact Register), in paragraph (13)(a), for “or marriage” substitute “ , marriage or civil partnership ”.