Legislation – Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
Changes to legislation:
Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, Section 50 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 12 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
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PART 1Adoption
CHAPTER 3Placement for adoption and adoption orders
Post-adoption contact
Orders under section 49: supplementary50
(1)
An order under section 49—
(a)
may contain directions about how it is to be carried into effect;
(b)
may be made subject to any conditions the court thinks appropriate;
(c)
may be varied or revoked by the court on an application by the child, a person in whose favour the adoption order was made or a person named in the order; and
(d)
has effect until the child’s 18th birthday or an earlier date as specified by the court, unless revoked.
(2)
Subsection (3) applies to proceedings—
(a)
on an application for an adoption order in which—
(i)
an application is made for an order under section 49; or
(ii)
the court indicates that it is considering making such an order on its own initiative;
(b)
on an application for an order under section 49;
(c)
on an application for such an order to be varied or revoked.
(3)
The court must (in the light of any rules of court made by virtue of subsection (4))—
(a)
draw up a timetable with a view to determining without delay whether to make, (or as the case may be) vary or revoke an order under section 49; and
(b)
give directions for the purpose of ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, that that timetable is adhered to.
(4)
Rules of court may—
(a)
specify periods within which specified steps must be taken in relation to proceedings to which subsection (3) applies; and
(b)
make other provision with respect to such proceedings for the purpose of ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the court makes determinations about orders under section 49 without delay.