Part 4Civil partnership: Northern Ireland

Chapter 5Children

203Adoption

1

Amend the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (S.I. 1987/2203 (N.I. 22)) as follows.

2

In Article 2 (interpretation), in the definition of “relative” in paragraph (2), for “affinity” substitute “ marriage or civil partnership ”.

3

In Article 12 (adoption orders), in paragraph (5), after “married” insert “ or who is or has been a civil partner ”.

4

In Article 15 (adoption by one person), in paragraph (1)(a), after “is not married” insert “ or a civil partner ”.

5

In Article 33 (meaning of “protected child”), in paragraph (3)(g), after “marriage” insert “ or forming a civil partnership ”.

6

In Article 40 (status conferred by adoption), in paragraph (3)(a), after “1984” insert “ or for the purposes of Schedule 12 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004 ”.

7

In Article 54 (disclosure of birth records of adopted children), in paragraph (2)—

a

after “intending to be married” insert “ or to form a civil partnership ”;

b

for “the person whom he intends to marry” substitute “ the intended spouse or civil partner ”;

c

after “1984” insert “ or Schedule 12 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004 ”.

8

In Article 54A (Adoption Contact Register), in paragraph (13)(a), for “or marriage” substitute “ , marriage or civil partnership ”.