Blended families and adoption law

The term “blended family” has become a preferred term used to describe a family unit in which one or both parents have children from a previous relationship and have combined to form a new family. 

I have recently acted for a client in successfully securing an Adoption Order for their step-child. Although different to the usual divorce and child arrangements we commonly see and help our clients with, it is a reminder of the broad spectrum of work we offer at Birkett Long.

Adopting your step-child

If you are looking to adopt your step-child or your partner’s child, we are on hand to assist and guide you through what can feel like a daunting process. We work alongside the Local Authority and CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) throughout your application.

What is an Adoption Order?

An Adoption Order gives parental responsibility to the adopters and extinguishes any previous parental responsibility and any earlier court orders. The child is treated as if they were born to the adopter/s and will be issued with a new birth certificate to reflect this change. If you are considering an Adoption Order, further information can be found here: https://www.birkettlong.co.uk/site/at-home/family-life/children/adoption-solicitors/

Alternatively, you may feel that an Adoption Order goes too far in terms of the parental responsibility it extinguishes and the ties it severs from a child’s birth family. 

There are other alternatives such as a Child Arrangements Order: https://www.birkettlong.co.uk/site/at-home/family-life/children/child-arrangement-order-solicitors/ 

Or, there is a Special Guardianship Order: https://www.birkettlong.co.uk/site/at-home/family-life/children/special-guardianship-order-solicitors/ that we can also consider.

If you are thinking of making an application for adoption or wish to consider the alternatives and would like further advice, please do get in touch. I can offer a free 15-minute telephone consultation to see how we can help. I can be contacted on 0330 818 3071 or via email katherine.parker@birkettlong.co.uk.