Step-parent adoption
Step-parent adoption
If you are a step-parent and are considering adopting your partner's child, the process is different from adopting a child through Adoption Now.
At Adoption Now, we specialise in finding adoptive families for children who are in the care of local authorities. Applications for step-parent adoption are managed by the local authority children's services team where you live.
Who should I contact?
Please contact your local children's services team for advice and information about the step-parent adoption process.
Bolton
Contact the Integrated Front Door (IFD) Team on 01204 331500 and select Option 2.
Bury
Contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0161 253 5678 or complete the online form on the Bury Council website
Oldham
Contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0161 770 7777 or email child.mash@oldham.gov.uk
Rochdale
Contact Rochdale's Referral and Advice Team on 0300 303 1000.
Tameside
Contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) at childreferral@tameside.gov.uk.
What is Step-Parent Adoption?
Step-parent adoption is a legal process which changes the legal identity of a child in terms of their parentage. Therefore, they will remain the legal child of your partner but would no longer be related legally to their absent birth parent – it strips their rights and responsibilities. Legally it is as if they have been born to the step-parent. This would require the absent birth parent to be contacted and their permission sought.
With this comes parental responsibility, however there are other ways of obtaining equal parental responsibility without contacting the absent parent or removing their parental responsibility.
The court will always consider whether adoption is in the child's best interests and whether there are any alternative legal arrangements that may meet the family's needs.
Further Information
To learn more about step-parent adoption, the following resources may be helpful:
- Adopting a stepchild - GOV.UK
- Stepfamilies: Legal information about adopting stepchildren - Family Lives
- How do I apply for step-parent adoption in the UK? - Family Law
Need More Advice?
If you are unsure whether step-parent adoption is the right option for your family, your local children's services team will be able to explain the process, timescales and any assessments that may be required before an application can proceed. They can also discuss alternative legal arrangements, such as parental responsibility agreements or Child Arrangements Orders, where appropriate.