International Adoption

Duncan Lewis International Family Law Solicitors - International Adoption

International adoption involves adopting a child from overseas who is without parents or is being raised in a children’s home. It can also involve adopting the child of a family member if you or your partner were born outside the UK.

We assist in adoption matters that involve:

• Adopting a child from overseas to live in the UK
• Adopting a child from overseas family members
• Adopting a child in an overseas country that you are living in
• Adopting a partner or spouse’s child
• Adopting a child from a relative of your spouse or partner

It is crucial to seek expert legal advice in order to navigate the legal aspects of international adoption and ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible.

What is international adoption?

International adoption is a complex procedure that involves heavy scrutiny from both the authorities of the child’s country of origin and the UK authorities to ensure that those adopting are able to provide for the child emotionally and financially. International adoption in the UK is covered by several pieces of legislation including the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the Adoption Order 1973, and the 1993 Hague Convention.

There is eligibility criteria for adoptive parents, however in the UK, nobody can be discriminated against or turned down for adoption on the grounds of sexuality, age, disability, race, religion, marital status or employment. Rules and regulations in other countries may differ largely from those in the UK; our solicitors can advise further on the adoption process in the child’s country of origin.

Applications to adopt a child from overseas can be made through either a UK or an international adoption agency. A fee may be charged by the Department for Education for processing the application, this is means tested according to salary, with no fee for prospective adoptive parents with salaries of £25,000 or less.

The process of international adoption can be emotionally challenging. It is important to remember that some children may need additional support and that others may have a learning disability or physical disability that an adoptive parent needs to be able to understand and support. If you are considering international adoption, it is crucial to seek expert advice from a family Solicitor with experience in international adoption and UK immigration law, to help guide you through the legal processes and practicalities of adopting a child from overseas.

Why choose Duncan Lewis International Family Law Solicitors?

Our international family law solicitors have a successful track record in advising clients on international adoption matters. Our team works closely with our immigration department to ensure that your adopted child’s right to enter the UK is established without any legal complications.

Collectively, our staff can speak over 60 languages and our international family solicitors have a network of affiliates overseas, making us well placed to advise on international adoption in different jurisdictions.

How can I fund my International Adoption case?

Duncan Lewis offers an initial fixed fee to discuss international family law matters. All other and further work would be carried out by way of our competitive hourly rates.

We recommend clients get in touch as soon as possible to discuss international adoption, so that all the necessary legal agreements can be put in place as efficiently as possible, ensuring you are able to focus on the practicalities in an informed and supportive environment.

Duncan Lewis High Net Worth Divorce Solicitors offer specialist legal advice on International Divorce and Jurisdiction, International Financial Disputes, International Child Abduction, International Wardship, International Surrogacy and International Adoption to those individuals with assets in excess of 1 million pounds.

We recommend clients get in touch as soon as possible to discuss international adoption, so that all the necessary legal agreements can be put in place as efficiently as possible, ensuring you are able to focus on the practicalities in an informed and supportive environment. For expert legal advice on international adoption, contact Duncan Lewis International Family Law Solicitors in confidence on 033 3772 0409.