ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with an overview of the human rights issues that have characterised the evolving law, policy and practice relating to adoption in England. It identifies the principles and significant statistical trends in modern adoption practice, before outlining the contemporary legislative and regulatory frameworks. The chapter examines each stage of the domestic adoption process: the thresholds for entry; the hearing and the grounds for making an adoption order; and the thresholds for exiting intercountry adoption (ICA) process. It considers the effects of an adoption order on the parties concerned and ends with a brief summary of post-adoption information rights, tracing and reunification services. At each stage, the chapter identifies and reflects upon the related human rights considerations. Adoption legislation came late to this jurisdiction and the volume of orders has faded considerably in recent years, but nonetheless the domestic adoption process has become sophisticated and highly regulated.
