The Act also allows for the introduction of special guardianship, a legal status that allows for a child to be cared for by a person with rights similar to a traditional legal guardian, but without a requirement for absolute legal separation from the child's birth parents. [2] [3] Special guardianship provisions were passed into law by statutory instrument in 2005 and came into force in 2006. [4] Better SupportIt has been recognised that adoptive parents often need support. The systems and schemes that are in place have been enhanced to ensure that the adoption you are making is successful. If the adoption is through an adoption agency, the adoption application cannot be lodged until the child has been with the applicants for at least 10 weeks. A father who is registered on a child's birth certificate will acquire parental responsibility. (This only applies to births registered on or after 1st December 2003). The birthmother or father still retain the right to decide whether their child can be formally adopted.

g) Provision of an adoptive support services advisor and adoption support plans for adoptive families My son through no fault of his own never knew his daughter Lola until she was taken into care, and was fostered by two women to be adopted. The mother after refusing to do a DNA test when she was born, abused Lola and her half brother Brandon, with her boyfriend. Lola had broken wrists and Brandon had broken legs. To provide a new system for access to information held in adoption agency records and by the Register General about adoptions, which take place after the Act comes into force. f) The relationship of the child with relatives and "other relevant people" (e.g. the benefits to the child of the relationship continuing, the ability of the relatives to provide the child with a secure home). To cut delays in the adoption process by establishing an Adoption and Children Act Register to suggest links between children and approved adopters.h) Providing an assessment of the needs of adopted children and their families for adoption support services. d) A Step-Parent (provided the child has had his/her home with them for at least six months preceding the application).

The Act provides for the establishment of a review procedure in respect of decisions made by adoption agencies regarding adoption. A person in respect of whom a decision has been made regarding adoption will be able to apply to a review panel for a review of the decision. The intention is to give the prospective adopters a right to request a referral to a panel run by an independent organisation where an adoption panel indicates that it is minded to turn down their application to adopt. An adopted person can apply to obtain a copy of their birth certificate but the Local Authority must make the application. Section 44 of the Act, which allowed gay couples to adopt, was subject to considerable controversy and faced strong opposition in Parliament: on 16 October 2002, the House of Lords, during consideration of the Bill, passed with 196 votes in favour and 162 against an amendment which would have only allowed straight married couples to adopt. On 4 November, the House of Commons voted 287—233 to disagreee with the change proposed by the Lords; the next day the House of Lords, by a vote of 215 to 184, unexpectably decided not to insist on its amendment, allowing the Bill to immediately receive Royal Assent. This is a guardian who has been appointed by the court in adoption proceedings or in any family proceedings where a question arises with respect to the welfare of the child. The Special Guardian then acquires parental responsibility for the child and can usually exercise parental responsibility to the exclusion of any other person with parental responsibility, (apart from another Special Guardian). To place a duty on local authorities to maintain an adoption service and provide adoption support services.My son sees his daughter Lola twice a week and they adore each other. Tomorrow we are in court and the judge will decide whether to place Lola with her dad or allow these two women to adopt her and her half brother.