ADOPTION ACT 1958

Part I sets out provisions relating to adoption orders. Sections 1 – 12 relate to the making of adoption orders. This includes the age and sex of the applicant (s. 2), the care and possession of infants before adoption, and notification of local authority (s. 3), evidence of consent of parent or guardian (s. 6), the functions of court as to adoption orders (s. 7) and jurisdiction and procedure in England (s. 8).

Provisions regarding the effects of the adoption orders are set out in Sections 13 – 19. This includes the rights and duties of parents and the capacity to marry (s. 13), friendly societies, insurance etc (s. 14), affiliation orders (s. 15) and English intestacies, wills and settlements (s. 16).

Sections 20 – 25 provide details on registration of adoptions. Section 26 – 27 sets out legitimation following adoption.

Part II sets out regulations that apply to Local Authorities and Adoption Societies. Section 28(2) empowers the local authority, ‘every such local authority have power to make and participate in arrangements for the adoption of children.’ Part II also includes a restriction on making arrangements for adoption (s. 29), details on the registration of adoption societies (s. 30), procedure and right of appeal (s. 31), details on adoption societies regulations (s. 32) and inspection of books of registered adoption societies (s. 33).

Part III sets out provisions relating to the care and possession of infants awaiting adoption (s. 34 – 36).

Part IV deals with the supervision of children awaiting adoption or placed with strangers. This includes provisions defining the meaning of the protected child (s. 37), duty of local authority to secure well being of protected children (s. 38), power to inspect premises (s. 39), details of notices and information to be given to local authority (s. 40), power of local authority to prohibit placing of child (s. 41), the removal of protected children from unsuitable surroundings (s. 43), extension of power to issue warrants to search for and remove a child (s. 45), avoidance of insurances on lives of protected children (s. 46) and sittings of juvenile courts in proceedings under Part IV (s. 47).

Part V contains miscellaneous and general provisions. This includes restrictions upon advertisements (s. 51), restriction on removal of infants for adoption outside the British Islands (s. 52), offences (s. 54), service of notices (s. 55), rules and regulations (s. 56) and interpretation (s.57).

SCHEDULES

First Schedule: Form of entry in Adopted Children Register in England.

Third Schedule: Purposes for which adoption societies regulations may be made.

Fourth Schedule: Consequential amendments of enactments.

Fifth Schedule: Transitional provisions.

Sixth Schedule: Enactments repealed.