Adoption
Guidance and Regulations
The Legislative Framework
This section lists the main primary and subordinate legislation governing and relevant to adoption in Northern Ireland.
Primary Legislation
- The Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (S.I. 1987/2203 (NI22))
- The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/755 (NI 2))
Subordinate Legislation:
- Adoption Agencies Regulation (Northern Ireland) 1989 (S.R. 1989 No. 253)
- Adopted Persons (Birth Records) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 (S.R. 1995 No. 484)
- Adopted Persons (Contact Register) (Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 (S.R. 1995 No. 485)
- Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (S.R. 2003 No. 16)
- The Registration of Foreign Adoptions Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (S.R. 2003 No. 255)
- The Adoption of Children from Overseas and Intercounty Adoption (Hague Convention) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006 No. 33)
Information on adoption pay and leave
International Conventions
- Hague Conference on Private International law - Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption 29 May 1993 (the UK ratified the Hague Convention on 1 June 2003)
- United Nations - Convention on the Rights of the Child 20 November 1989 (the UK ratified the convention in December 1991)
- European Convention on the Adoption of Children - 1967 (UK ratified 21 December 1967)
- Hague Conference on Private International law - Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction - 1980
- European Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Concerning Custody of Children and on Restoration of Custody of Children - 1980
- European Convention on Human Rights - 1986
- United Nations Declaration on Social and legal Principles Relating to the protection and Welfare of Children, with special reference to Foster Placement and Adoption, Nationally and Internationally - 1986
- United Nations - Convention on the Rights of the Child 20 November 1989 (UK ratified December 1991)
- Hague Conference on Private International law - Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption 29 May 1993 (UK ratify the Hague Convention on 1 June 2003)
- List of States who have signed, ratified, or acceded to the Convention
- European Parliament Resolution on Improving the Law and Cooperation between the Member States on the Adoption of Minors - 12 December 1996
