Adopting a Child

Deciding to adopt a child can be a rewarding experience, providing the opportunity to those unable to have children of their own to raise a family, as well as offering a child the chance to grow up in a loving and nurturing environment. However, the process is often lengthy and challenging, and involves a number of legal implications which can be hard to navigate without the advice of a legal expert who specialises in adoption law.

At Rotheras we have considerable experience in working with families who wish to adopt, and can advise you on the process from start to finish.

Whether you are looking to adopt a stepchild or a child in care, need help with an Adoption Order or your own child is potentially being placed for adoption by the local authority, we can help.

Why use Rotheras for Adoption Law?

We are members of the Law Society’s Children Law Accreditation Scheme (formerly Children Panel).

We can advise on a wide range of matters, from straightforward adoptions to the rights of birth parents.

We can advise on alternatives if they are more appropriate in your situation, such as Child Arrangements Orders, parental responsibility or a Special Guardianship Order.

We can help you if you are the birth parent and have parental responsibility of a child who is being adopted and you disagree with the adoption or an application for a Placement Order to enable the local authority to place your child for adoption.

We can advise you if you are a birth parent looking to challenge an Adoption Order.

We can communicate with you through whichever method you would prefer, whether that’s face to face, phone, email or Skype/video call.

We have a network of seven branch offices across Nottingham, all of which offer family and child care services.

We can help you with:

• Adopting a child when you are a:
  • Relative
  • Stepparent or foster parent
  • Carer
  • Same Sex Couple
• Local authority adoption
• International adoption
• Post-adoption issues
• Placement Orders
• Special Guardianship Orders
• Child Arrangements Orders
• Parental Responsibility

“We handle clients with sensitivity and understanding throughout”

Ann-Marie Bowman
Partner