Legislation – Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
Changes to legislation:
Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, Section 52 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 07 April 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 52:
- Act applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2018/412, Sch. 3 (as substituted) by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 83
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
- Act applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2018/412, Sch. 3 (as substituted) by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 83
PART 1Adoption
CHAPTER 3Placement for adoption and adoption orders
Placement and adoption: general
Modification of Children Order in relation to adoption52
(1)
Where—
(a)
an adoption authority is authorised to place a child for adoption; or
(b)
a child who has been placed for adoption by an authority is less than six weeks old,
regulations may provide for the following provisions of the Children Order to apply with modifications, or not to apply, in relation to the child.
(2)
The provisions are—
(a)
Article 26(2)(b), (c) and (d) and (3)(b) (duty to ascertain wishes and feelings of certain persons);
(b)
Articles 29 and 39 (promoting contact with parents and parents’ obligation to contribute towards maintenance).
(3)
Where an appropriate voluntary organisation is authorised to place a child for adoption or a child who has been placed for adoption by an appropriate voluntary organisation is less than six weeks old, regulations may provide—
(a)
for Article 76 of the Children Order to have effect in relation to the child whether or not the child is accommodated by or on behalf of the organisation;
(b)
for paragraphs (2)(b) to (d) and (3)(b) of that Article (duty to ascertain wishes and feelings of certain persons) to apply with modifications, or not to apply, in relation to the child.
(4)
Where a child’s home is with persons who have given notice of intention to adopt, no contribution is payable (whether under a contribution order or otherwise) under Articles 38 to 43 of the Children Order (contributions towards maintenance of children looked after by an authority) in respect of the period referred to in subsection (5).
(5)
That period begins when the notice of intention to adopt is given and ends if—
(a)
the period of four months beginning with the giving of the notice expires without the prospective adopters applying for an adoption order; or
(b)
an application for such an order is withdrawn or refused.
(6)
In this section, “notice of intention to adopt” includes notice of intention to apply for an adoption order under the law of any part of the United Kingdom.