Ways to adopt

Adopting a child

Adoption provides a permanent family for a child who is unable to live with their birth family.

Adoption is a life-changing decision, both for you and for the child. When a child is adopted, they become a full and legal member of their adoptive family for life.

Children waiting for adoption vary in age, background and experience. Some are younger children, some are older, some are brothers and sisters who need to stay together, and some have additional needs.

We encourage adopters to remain open-minded about the type of child they feel able to parent. The broader your considerations, the more children you may be able to offer stability, belonging and a loving home.

 

Welsh Early Permanence

Welsh Early Permanence (WEP) supports children to experience stability as early as possible.

When children are first removed from their birth family, they are usually placed with foster carers while court decisions are being made. If the plan becomes adoption, children will normally move from foster care to their adoptive family.

WEP allows children to be placed from an early stage with carers who are approved as both foster carers and adopters. This reduces the number of moves a child experiences and gives them the opportunity to build early attachments.

In a small number of cases, the court may decide that a child should return to their birth family. This means WEP carers need to manage some uncertainty while decisions are being made.

If you feel you could manage a degree of uncertainty so that a child does not have to experience multiple moves, this pathway may be right for you.

 

Adopting a child from overseas

Intercountry adoption involves adopting a child from another country.

It's important that adopters understand and respect the child's cultural background, heritage and identity. Supporting children to maintain links to their country of birth can be an important part of their lifelong wellbeing.

The assessment process is similar to adopting in the UK, with additional requirements. Once completed, the assessment is submitted to Welsh Government for approval.

You will need to travel to the child's country as part of the introductions process.

Intercountry adoption involves additional costs, including assessment fees, travel and legal expenses. These vary depending on the country involved. Each country also sets its own eligibility criteria and requirements.

 

Adopting a step-child

Step-parent adoption is when someone applies to legally adopt their partner's child who is under the age of 18.

To apply, you must:

• Be aged 21 or over
• Have lived in the UK for at least 1 year

You don't need to be married, although couples are usually expected to have been in a stable relationship for at least two years.

Before applying to the court, you must notify your local authority of your intention to adopt. This must be done at least 3 months before submitting your court application. The local authority will carry out an assessment and provide a report to the court. A court fee is payable when applying.

Children's views will always be taken into account.

It's important to understand that step-parent adoption is one of several legal options. Alternatives may include parental responsibility agreements or child arrangement orders. We encourage families to consider all options carefully to decide what is best for their circumstances.