Evidence of an overseas adoption

3.—(1) The following documents may be provided as evidence that an overseas adoption has been effected—

(a)a certified copy of an entry made, in accordance with the law of the country or territory concerned, in a public register relating to the recording of adoptions and showing that the adoption has been effected; or

(b)a certificate that the adoption has been effected, signed or purporting to be signed by a person authorised by the law of the country or territory concerned to sign such a certificate, or a certified copy of such a certificate.

(2) Where a document produced by virtue of paragraph (1) is not in English, the Registrar General may require the production of an English translation of the document before being satisfied of the matters specified in paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to the Adoption and Children Act 2002(1).

(3) Nothing in this Article may be construed as precluding proof, in accordance with the Evidence (Foreign, Dominion and Colonial Documents) Act 1933(2), or the Oaths and Evidence (Overseas Authorities and Countries) Act 1963(3), or otherwise, that an overseas adoption has been effected.

(1)

Paragraph 3(6) was amended by S.I. 2008/678.

(2)

1933 (c.4). Section 1 was amended by section 5 of the Oaths and Evidence (Overseas Authorities and Countries) Act 1963 (c.27) and section 2 was repealed by section 34 of, and Part 2 of Schedule 4 to, the British Nationality Act 1948 (c.56).

(3)

1963 (c.27). Section 4 was repealed by section 8(2) of, and Schedule 2 to, the Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975 (c.34).