Part VI Miscellaneous and Supplemental

57 Prohibition on certain payments.

1

Subject to the provisions of this section, it shall not be lawful to make or give to any person any payment or reward for or in consideration of—

a

the adoption by that person of a child;

b

the grant by that person of any agreement or consent required in connection with the adoption of a child;

c

the F1handing over of a child by that person with a view to the adoption of the child; or

d

the making by that person of any arrangements for the adoption of a child.

2

Any person who makes or gives, or agrees or offers to make or give, any payment or reward prohibited by this section, or who receives or agrees to receive or attempts to obtain any such payment or reward, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding F2level 5 on the standard scale or to both; F3 . . .

3

This section does not apply to any payment made to an adoption agency by a parent or guardian of a child or by a person who adopts or proposes to adopt a child, being a payment in respect of expenses reasonably incurred by the agency in connection with the adoption of the child, or to any payment or reward authorised by the court to which an application for an adoption order in respect of a child is made.

F43A

This section does not apply to—

a

any payment made by an adoption agency to a person who has applied or proposes to apply to a court for an adoption order or an order under section 55 (adoption of children abroad), being a payment of or towards any legal or medical expenses incurred or to be incurred by that person in connection with the application; or

b

any payment made by an adoption agency to another adoption agency in consideration of the placing of a child F5with any person with a view to the child’s adoption; or

c

any payment made by an adoption agency to a voluntary organisation for the time being approved for the purposes of this paragraph by the Secretary of State as a fee for the services of that organisation in putting that adoption agency into contact with another adoption agency with a view to the making of arrangements between the adoption agencies for the adoption of a child.

In paragraph (c) “voluntary organisation” means a body, other than a public or local authority, the activities of which are not carried on for profit.

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F610

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