Step-parent adoption
About this service
If you wish to consider how you can secure your legal relationship with your partner’s child(ren) from a previous marriage or relationship there are various ways you can do this, by applying to the court for:
1. a Parental Responsibility Order
2. a Parental Responsibility Agreement
3. a Residence Order
4. Step-Parent Adoption
Any of the first three options enable the child to retain the legal links with her/his other birth parent and wider family but give you parental responsibility, with regard to the day-to day decisions regarding the child.
If you wish to become the child’s legal parent, you may wish to apply for step-parent adoption, in which case the local authority has a duty to make an assessment of your circumstances, including:
- making checks with CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) and other agencies
- taking up three personal references from people who know you well
- checking your health history and current state of health
- preparing a detailed report for the court
- seeking the views and consent of the child’s other birth parent and anyone else with parental responsibility
- seeking the views of the child(ren), depending on age and understanding
For further information about step-parent adoption and the alternatives, please contact the locality social work team for your area:
Contact Details
Postal Address:
Adoption Team
Social Care Services Branch
Newbury House
Aintree Avenue
White Horse Business Park
Trowbridge
BA14 0XB
Tel:
01225 715555
Fax:
01225 755196
Email:
adoption@wiltshire.gov.uk