“Convention” means the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption, concluded at The Hague on 29th May 1993;

“Convention adoption” means an adoption effected under the law of a Convention country outside the British Islands and certified in pursuance of Article 23(1) of the Convention;

“Convention adoption order” means an adoption order made in accordance with Article 11C of this Law;

“Convention country” means any country or territory in which the Convention is in force;

“Court” means the Inferior Number of the Royal Court;

“father”, in relation to an illegitimate child, means the natural father;

“guardian” has the same meaning as in the Children (Jersey) Law 2002;

“Minister” means the Minister for Children and Families;

“overseas adoption” means an adoption appearing to the Court to be effected under the law of any country outside the British Islands;

“panel” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 7;

“parent” means, in relation to a child, any parent who has parental responsibility for the child under the Children (Jersey) Law 2002; and

“parental responsibility” has the same meaning as in the Children (Jersey) Law 2002;

“prescribed” means prescribed by Adoption Rules;

“registered medical practitioner” means a physician or surgeon registered under the enactments for the time being regulating the exercise in Jersey of the profession of medical practitioner;

“relative”, in relation to a child, means a grand-parent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt, whether of the full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership, and includes –

(a) where an adoption order has been made in respect of the child or any other person by a court of competent jurisdiction in the British Islands any person who would be a relative of the child within the meaning of this definition if the adopted person were the child of the adopter born in lawful wedlock or in the course of a civil partnership;

(b) where the child is illegitimate, the father of the child and any person who would be a relative of the child within the meaning of this definition if the child were the legitimate child of the child’s mother and father.[3]

(2) [4]

(3) For the purposes of this Law, a person shall be deemed to make arrangements for the adoption of a child if the person enters into or makes any agreement or arrangement for, or for facilitating, the adoption of the child by any other person, whether the adoption is effected, or is intended to be effected, in pursuance of an adoption order or otherwise, or if the person initiates or takes part in any negotiations of which the purpose or effect is the conclusion of any agreement or the making of any arrangement therefor, or if the person causes another to do so.

(3A) In this Law, in determining with whom or where a child has his or her home, any absence of the child at a hospital, an approved establishment within the meaning given by the Mental Health (Jersey) Law 2016 or boarding school and any other temporary absence shall be disregarded.[5]

(3B) In this Law, in relation to the proposed adoption of a child resident outside the British Islands, references to arrangements for the adoption of a child include references to arrangements for an assessment for the purpose of indicating whether a person is suitable to adopt a child or not.[6]

(3C) In this Law, in relation to –

(a) an adoption proposed to be effected by a Convention adoption order; or

(b) an adoption of a child habitually resident outside the British Islands which is proposed to be effected otherwise than by a Convention adoption order,

references to a child placed with any persons by an adoption agency include references to a child who, in pursuance of arrangements made by such an agency, has been placed with those persons under the law of a country or territory outside the British Islands.[7]

(4) This Law applies to citizens of the Republic of Ireland as it applies to British subjects, and references in this Law to British subjects shall be construed accordingly.

(5) Any reference in this Law to any other enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended by any subsequent enactment; and in this paragraph “enactment” includes an enactment of the United Kingdom.[8]

2 Establishment of Adoption Service[9]

(1) The Minister shall continue to maintain in Jersey a service designed to meet the needs, in relation to adoption, of –

(a) children who have been or may be adopted;

(b) parents and guardians of such children; and

and for that purpose shall continue to provide the facilities referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article, or secure that they are provided by another approved adoption society.[10]

(2) The facilities to be provided as part of the service maintained under paragraph (1) include –

(a) arrangements for assessing children and prospective adopters, and placing children for adoption;

(b) counselling for persons with problems relating to adoption.

(3) The services maintained by the Minister under paragraph (1) may be collectively referred to as the “Adoption Service”.

(4) In Articles 2 to 9 of this Law references to adoption are to the adoption of children, wherever they may be habitually resident, effected under the law of any country or territory, whether within or outside the British Islands.[11]

3 Welfare of child to be paramount[12]

(1) In reaching any decision relating to the adoption of a child, the paramount consideration of the Court, the Minister and the Adoption Service must be the welfare of the child throughout his or her life.

(2) Without derogation from paragraph (1) or from the specific provisions as to agreement by a child in Article 3A, the Court, the Minister and the Adoption Service shall, in reaching any decision relating to the adoption of a child, have regard to all the circumstances of the case and shall in particular –

(a) so far as practicable, ascertain the wishes and feelings of the child regarding a decision or proposed decision relating to his or her adoption; and

(b) give due consideration to the child’s wishes and feelings, having regard to his or her age and understanding.

(3) The Minister may by Order prescribe other matters, in addition to those mentioned in paragraph (2) and in all cases without derogation from paragraph (1), to which the Court, the Minister and the Adoption Service must have regard in reaching any decision relating to the adoption of a child.

3A Agreement of child having sufficient understanding[13]

(1) This Article applies in relation to children aged 14 or over.

(2) A child in relation to whom this Article applies shall, subject to paragraph (5), be deemed to have sufficient understanding to give his or her agreement in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4).

(3) Where the Court proposes to make an order authorizing the adoption of such a child, the order shall not be made unless the Court is satisfied that the child freely, and with full understanding of what is involved, agrees to the adoption.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the child’s agreement must be given in writing or be evidenced by writing.

(5) If in all the circumstances the Court considers that a child in relation to whom this Article would otherwise apply is incapable of giving agreement, the Court may proceed to make the proposed order without seeking to obtain such agreement.

(6) If the Court proceeds to make an order without agreement in pursuance of paragraph (5), the Court shall record that it has done so and its reasons for so doing.

(7) The Minister may by Order amend paragraph (1) for the purpose of specifying a different age.

4 Religious upbringing of adopted child[14]

The Minister shall in placing a child for adoption have regard, so far as is practicable, to any wishes of a child’s parents and guardians as to the religious upbringing of the child.

5 Duty to use registered adoption societies[15]

The Minister shall, if he or she cannot place a child for adoption in Jersey or in Guernsey, use a registered adoption society as defined in section 2 of the Adoption and Children Act.

6 Restriction on arranging adoptions and placing of children[16]

(1) A person other than the Minister shall not make arrangements for the adoption of a child, or place a child for adoption, unless –

(a) the proposed adopter is a relative of the child; or

(b) the proposed adopter is acting in pursuance of an order of the Court.

(2) A person who –

(a) takes part in the management or control of a body of persons which exists wholly or partly for the purpose of making arrangements for the adoption of children;

(b) contravenes paragraph (1); or

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale or to both.

(3) In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (2)(a), proof of things done or of words written, spoken or published (whether or not in the presence of any party to the proceedings) by any person taking part in the management or control of a body of persons, or in making arrangements for the adoption of children on behalf of the body, shall be admissible as evidence of the purpose for which that body exists.

7 Adoption Panel[17]

(1) There is established an Adoption Panel (in this Law referred to as the “panel”) –

(a) to carry out such of the powers and duties of the Minister as may be determined pursuant to Article 8; and

(b) to recommend to the Minister where an allowance payable under Article 9 is appropriate.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the panel shall comprise the Minister or such officers in the employment of an administration of the States for which the Minister is assigned responsibility, and such members of the public, as the Minister shall from time to time think fit.

(3) Nothing in paragraph (2) shall be construed as a requirement that the Minister shall at all times be a member of the panel.

8 Delegation to the Panel[18]

The Minister may delegate to the panel such of his or her powers and duties in relation to the maintenance of the Adoption Service as the Minister may by Order determine.

9 Allowances[19]

The Minister may, after considering a recommendation of the panel, pay an allowance to persons who have adopted, or intend to adopt, children, where the Minister is satisfied that such an adoption is not practicable without payment of an allowance.

Part 2

Making of Adoption Orders

10 Power to make adoption orders

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Law, the Court may, upon an application made in the prescribed manner –

(a) by a person domiciled in the British Islands; or

(b) subject to paragraph (1A), by 2 persons jointly, at least one of whom is domiciled in the British Islands,

make an order authorizing the applicant or, in the case of an application by 2 persons jointly, the applicants, to adopt the child.[20]

(1A) A joint application may be made only where the 2 persons in question are –

(a) married to each other;

(b) in a civil partnership with each other; or

(c) otherwise living as partners in an enduring family relationship (and for this purpose it is irrelevant whether the 2 persons are of different genders or the same gender).[21]

(1B) Sub-paragraph (1A)(c) does not include 2 persons one of whom is related to the other as a parent, grandparent, sister, brother, aunt or uncle, and relationship for this purpose –

(a) means relationship of full or half blood or, in the case of an adopted person, such a relationship as would exist except for the adoption; and

(b) includes the relationship of a child with his or her adoptive or former adoptive parents, but does not include any other adoptive relationship.[22]

(2) Where the application is for a Convention adoption order and complies with Article 3C of this Law the requirements of paragraph (1) of this Article in respect of domicile shall not apply.[23]

(3) An adoption order may be made authorizing the adoption of a child by the mother or father of the child, either alone or jointly with his or her spouse or civil partner.[24]

(4) An adoption order may be made in respect of a child who has already been the subject of an adoption order made by a court of competent jurisdiction whether in Jersey or elsewhere; and in relation to an application for an adoption order in respect of such a child, the adopter or adopters under the previous or last previous adoption order shall be deemed to be the parent or parents of the child for all the purposes of this Law.[25]

(5) [26]

10A Consent of spouse or civil partner of adoptive parent[27]

(1) Where, on the application of a person made in accordance with Article 10(1)(a), the Court proposes to make an order authorizing the adoption of a child, the order shall not be made unless the Court is satisfied that –

(a) the spouse or civil partner of the person making the application freely, and with full understanding of what is involved, agrees to the making of the order;

(b) the spouse’s or civil partner’s agreement to the making of the order should be dispensed with on a ground specified in paragraph (2).

(2) The grounds mentioned in paragraph (1)(b) are that –

(a) the spouse or civil partner cannot be found;

(b) the spouse or civil partner is incapable of giving agreement;

(d) the welfare of the child, as the paramount consideration, justifies the making of the order without the agreement of the spouse or civil partner.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), the spouse’s or civil partner’s agreement must be given in writing or be evidenced by writing.

11 Age and sex of applicant

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), an adoption order shall not be made in respect of a child unless the applicant –

(a) is the mother or father of the child; or

(b) is a relative of the child, and has attained the age of 20 years; or

(2) An adoption order may be made in respect of a child on the joint application of 2 spouses or both partners of a civil partnership –

(a) if either of the applicants is the mother or father of the child; or

(b) if the condition set out in paragraph (1)(b) or (c) is satisfied in the case of one of the applicants, and the other of them has attained the age of 20 years.[28]

(3) [29]

11A Implementation of Convention[30]

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Law, the Minister may by Order make provision for giving effect to the Convention, and such provision may include amendments to this Law.

(2) The text of the Convention (so far as material) is set out in Schedule 2.

(3) An Order under this Article may provide that any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of the Order shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of 3 months and to a fine.[31]

(4) Any power to make subordinate legislation under or for the purposes of this Law includes power to do so with a view to giving effect to the provisions of the Convention.

11B Central authority and accredited bodies[32]

(1) The Minister shall discharge the Central Authority’s functions under the Convention but any of its functions under Articles 8, 9 or 15 to 21 of the Convention may be discharged by an accredited body on the Minister’s behalf.

(2) An approved adoption society is an accredited body for the purposes of the Convention if the approval extends to the provision of facilities in respect of Convention adoptions and adoptions effected by Convention adoption orders.

11C Convention adoption orders[33]

An adoption order shall be made as a Convention adoption order if –

(a) the application is for a Convention adoption order; and

(b) such requirements as may be prescribed by Order made by the Minister are complied with.

12 Freeing child for adoption[34]

(1) Where, on an application by the Minister, the Court is satisfied in the case of each parent or guardian of the child that –

(a) the person freely, and with full understanding of what is involved, agrees generally and unconditionally to the making of an adoption order; or

(b) the person’s agreement to the making of an adoption order should be dispensed with on a ground specified in Article 13(2),

the Court shall make an order declaring the child free for adoption.

(2) No application shall be made under paragraph (1) unless –

(a) it is made with the consent of a parent or guardian of a child; or

(b) the Minister is applying for dispensation under paragraph (1)(b) of the agreement of each parent or guardian of the child, and the child is in the care of the Minister.

(3) No agreement required under paragraph (1)(a) shall be dispensed with under paragraph (1)(b) unless the child is already placed for adoption or the Court is satisfied that it is likely that the child will be placed for adoption.

(4) An agreement by the mother of the child is ineffective for the purposes of this Article if given less than 6 weeks after the child’s birth.

(5) On the making of an order under this Article parental responsibility for the child is given to the Minister and Article 20(2) applies as if the order were an adoption order and the Minister was the adopter.[35]

(6) Before making an order under this Article, the Court shall satisfy itself, in relation to each parent or guardian of the child who can be found, that the person has been given an opportunity of making, if the person so wishes, a declaration that he or she prefers not to be involved in future questions concerning the adoption of the child, and any such declaration shall be recorded by the Court.

(7) Before making an order under this Article, in the case of a child whose father does not have parental responsibility for the child, the Court shall satisfy itself in relation to any person claiming to be the father that –

(a) the person has no intention, within the next 6 months, of –

(i) requesting registration as the child’s father under Article 56 of the Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001, or

(ii) applying for an order under Article 5 of the Children (Jersey) Law 2002 or a residence order under Article 10 of that Law; or

(b) if the person did make an application referred to in sub-paragraph (a)(ii), it would be likely to be refused.[36]

(8) An order under this Article may be made in respect of a child who has already been the subject of an adoption order made by a court of competent jurisdiction whether in Jersey or elsewhere.[37]

12A Progress reports to former parents[38]

(1) Within 14 days following the date 12 months after the making of an order under Article 12, the Minister, unless he or she has previously by notice to the former parent informed him or her that the child has been adopted, shall inform that parent by notice –

(a) whether the child has been adopted; and

(b) if the child has not been adopted whether he or she has his or her home with a person with whom he or she has been placed for adoption.

(2) Where a notice has been given as described in paragraph (1)(b) the Minister shall inform the former parent by notice –

(a) if and when the child is adopted; and

(b) if the child ceases to have his or her home with a person with whom he or she has been placed for adoption.

(3) If at any time the former parent by notice makes a declaration to the Minister that he or she prefers not to be involved in future questions concerning the adoption of the child –

(a) the Minister shall secure that the declaration is recorded by the Court; and

(b) the Minister shall be released from any further requirements under paragraph (2).

(4) In this Article and Article 12B of this Law “former parent” means any person required to be given an opportunity of making a declaration under Article 12(6) but who did not do so.

12B Revocation of Article 12 order[39]

(1) Where at any time more than 12 months after the making of an order under Article 12 of this Law (an “Article 12 order”), if the child –

(a) has not been adopted; and

(b) does not have his or her home with a person with whom he or she has been placed for adoption,

his or her former parent may apply to the Court for an order revoking the Article 12 order on the ground that he or she wishes to resume parental responsibility.

(2) While an application under this Article is pending the Minister shall not place the child for adoption without the leave of the Court.

(3) The revocation of an Article 12 order operates –

(a) to extinguish the parental responsibility given to the Minister;

(b) to give parental responsibility to the child’s mother and, where the child’s father and mother were married at the time of the child’s birth, the child’s father; and

(ai) parental responsibility acquired by a father in accordance with the requirements of Article 5(1)(aa) of the Children (Jersey) Law 2002,

(i) any parental responsibility agreement,

(ii) any order pursuant to Article 5 of the Children (Jersey) Law 2002 that the father shall have parental responsibility for the child, and

(iii) any appointment of a guardian in respect of the child (whether made by a court or otherwise),

extinguished by the making of the Article 12 order.[40]

(4) Subject to paragraph (3)(c), the revocation does not –

(a) operate to revive –

(i) any order under the Children (Jersey) Law 2002; or

(ii) any duty referred to in Article 20(2)(a)(iii) of this Law,

extinguished by the making of the Article 12 order; or

(b) affect any person’s parental responsibility so far as it relates to the period between the making of the Article 12 order and the date of revocation of that order.

(5) Subject to paragraph (6), where the Court dismisses an application under this Article on the grounds that to allow it would contravene the principle embodied in Article 3 of this Law –

(a) the applicant shall not be entitled to make a further application in respect of the child; and

(b) the Minister shall be released from the duty of complying further with Article 12A(2) as respects that parent.

(6) Paragraph (5)(a) shall not apply where the Court gives leave to the former parent to make a further application to revoke the Article 12 order, but such leave shall not be given unless it appears to the Court that because of a change in circumstances or for any other reason it is proper to allow the application to be made.

13 Parental agreement[41]

(1) An adoption order shall not be made unless –

(a) the child is free for adoption by virtue of an order made under Article 12 or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction in any other part of the British Islands; or

(b) in the case of each parent or guardian of the child the Court is satisfied that –

(i) the parent or guardian freely, and with full understanding of what is involved, agrees unconditionally to the making of an adoption order, whether or not he or she knows the identity of the applicants, or

(ii) the parent or guardian’s agreement to the making of the adoption order should be dispensed with on a ground specified in paragraph (2).[42]

(2) The grounds mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)(ii) are that the parent or guardian –

(a) cannot be found or is incapable of giving agreement;

(b) is withholding his or her agreement unreasonably;

(c) has persistently failed without reasonable cause to exercise his or her rights, duties, obligations and liabilities as a parent or guardian in respect of the child;

(d) has abandoned or neglected the child;

(e) subject to paragraph (4) has persistently ill-treated the child;

(f) has seriously ill-treated the child;

(g) is incapable of caring for the child or is of such habits or mode of life as to be unfit to have the care of the child.[43]

(3) Agreement is ineffective for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i) if given by the mother less than 6 weeks after the child’s birth.[44]

(4) Paragraph (2)(e) does not apply unless because of the ill-treatment or for other reasons, the rehabilitation of the child within the household of the parent, or guardian is unlikely.

(5) Where there has been a finding by a court of competent jurisdiction as to any grounds specified in paragraph (2)(c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) in the course of earlier proceedings to which the parent or guardian was given the opportunity of being a party, that finding shall be sufficient but not conclusive evidence of those grounds.

(6) Before making an adoption order in the case of a child whose father does not have parental responsibility for the child, the Court shall satisfy itself in relation to any person claiming to be the father that –

(a) he has no intention of applying within the next 6 months for an order under Article 5 of the Children (Jersey) Law 2002 or a residence order under Article 10 of that Law; or

(b) if he did make any such application, it would be likely to be refused.[45]

14 Evidence of consent of parent or guardian

(1) Where a parent or guardian of a child does not attend in the proceedings on an application for an adoption order for the purpose of giving his or her consent to the making of the order, a document signifying his or her consent to the making of such an order shall –

(a) if the person in whose favour the order is to be made is named in the document or (where the identity of that person is not known to the consenting party) is distinguished therein in the prescribed manner; and

(b) if the document is attested by a person of any such class as may be prescribed,

be admissible as evidence of that consent and of the signature of the document by the person by whom it is executed:

Provided that a document signifying the consent of the mother of a child shall not be admissible under this Article unless the child is at least 6 weeks old on the date of the execution of the document.

(2) For the purposes of this Article, a document purporting to be attested in the manner provided by paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be so attested, and to be executed and attested on the date and at the place specified in the document, unless the contrary is proved.

15 Child to live with adopters and notification to Minister[46]

(1) An adoption order shall not be made unless the child, at all times during the preceding 3 months (not counting any time before he or she attained the age of 6 weeks), had his or her home with the applicant (or, in the case of an application by 2 spouses or both partners of a civil partnership, one of the applicants).[47]

(2) Except where the applicant or one of the applicants is a parent of the child, an adoption order shall not be made unless the applicant has, at least 3 months before the date of the order, given notice in writing to the Minister of his or her intention to apply for an adoption order in respect of the child.[48]

(3) Where an application for an adoption order in respect of a child is pending, a parent or guardian of the child who has signified his or her consent to the making of an adoption order in pursuance of the application shall not be entitled, except with the leave of the Court, to remove the child from his or her home with the applicant, and in considering whether to grant or refuse such leave the Court shall have regard to the welfare of the child.[49]

(4) In relation to –

(a) an adoption proposed to be effected by a Convention adoption order; or

(b) an adoption of a child habitually resident outside the British Islands which is proposed to be effected otherwise than by a Convention adoption order,

paragraph (1) shall have effect as if the reference to the preceding 3 months were a reference to the preceding 6 months.[50]

16 Functions of Court as to adoption orders

(1) The Court before making an adoption order shall be satisfied –

(a) that every person whose consent is necessary under this Law, and whose consent is not dispensed with, has consented to and understands the nature and effect of the adoption order for which application is made, and in particular in the case of any parent understands that the effect of the adoption order will be permanently to extinguish his or her parental responsibility for the child;

(b) that the order if made will be for the welfare of the child; and

(c) that the applicant has not received or agreed to receive, and that no person has made or given or agreed to make or give to the applicant, any payment or other reward in consideration of the adoption except such as the Court may sanction.[51]

(2) In determining whether an adoption order if made will be for the welfare of the child, the Court shall have regard (among other things) to the health of the applicant, as evidenced, in such cases as may be prescribed, by the certificate of a registered medical practitioner, and shall give due consideration to the wishes of the child, having regard to the child’s age and understanding.

(3) The Court in an adoption order may impose such terms and conditions as the Court may think fit, and in particular may require the adopter by bond or otherwise to make for the child such provision (if any) as in the opinion of the Court is just and expedient.

17 Interim orders

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, the Court may, upon any application for an adoption order, postpone the determination of the application and make an interim order giving parental responsibility for the child to the applicant for a period not exceeding 2 years by way of a probationary period upon such terms as regards provision for the maintenance and education and supervision of the welfare of the child and otherwise as the Court may think fit.[52]

(2) All such consents as are required to an adoption order shall be necessary to an interim order but subject to a like power on the part of the Court to dispense with any such consent.

(3) An interim order shall not be made in any case where the making of an adoption order would be unlawful by virtue of Article 15.

(4) Where an interim order has been made giving parental responsibility for a child to the applicant for a period of less than 2 years, the Court may by order extend that period, but the total period for which the custody of the child is given to the applicant under the order as varied under this paragraph shall not exceed 2 years.[53]

(5) An interim order shall not be deemed to be an adoption order within the meaning of this Law.

18 Procedure

(1) In this Law “Adoption Rules” means rules made under paragraph (2).

(2) Rules in regard to any matter to be prescribed under this Law and dealing generally with all matters of procedure and incidental matters arising out of this Law and for carrying this Law into effect shall be made by the Superior Number of the Royal Court.

(3) Adoption Rules may provide for applications for adoption orders to be heard and determined otherwise than in open court.

(4) [54]

(5) In all proceedings, whether oral or written, under this Law, any member of the Court and any party or person engaged or concerned in such proceedings or giving evidence therein may use the English language.

(6) For the purposes of any application for an adoption order, the Court shall, subject to Adoption Rules, appoint some person or body to act as guardian ad litem of the child upon the hearing of the application with the duty of safeguarding the interests of the child before the Court.

(7) Adoption Rules may make provision –

(a) as to the form of a direction under Article 20(5) or an application for such a direction;

(b) as to the information required to be given by an applicant for such a direction;

(d) requiring notice of an application under that paragraph to be served on the Attorney General and on persons who may be affected by the direction.[55]

19 [56]

Part 3

Effects of Adoption Orders

20 Consequences of adoption[57]

(1) An adopted child shall be treated in law –

(a) where his or her adopters are a married couple or a civil partnership couple, as if he or she had been born as a child of the marriage or civil partnership, as the case may be (whether or not he or she was born after that marriage or civil partnership); and

(b) in any other case as if he or she had been born to the adopter –

(i) in wedlock (but not as a child of any actual marriage of the adopter), or

(ii) in the course of a civil partnership.[58]

(1A) An adopted child shall be treated in law as if he or she were not a child of any person other than any adopter.[59]

(1B) In the case of a child adopted solely by a natural parent, paragraph (1A) has no effect as respects entitlement to property depending on relationship to that parent, or as respects anything else depending on that relationship.[60]

(2) Where an adoption order is made –

(a) the following are extinguished –

(i) the parental responsibility which any person has for the child immediately before the making of the order,

(ii) any order under the Children (Jersey) Law 2002 unless the court directs otherwise, and

(iii) any duty arising by virtue of an agreement or the order of a court to make payments, so far as the payments are in respect of the child’s maintenance or upbringing for any period after the making of the order, unless made under an agreement which constitutes a trust or expressly provides that the duty is not to be extinguished by the making of an adoption order; and

(b) the adopter shall have parental responsibility for the adopted child.[61]

(3) Where it becomes necessary to appoint a guardian for an adopted child, the adopter or adopters and the relatives of the adopter or adopters shall, in all matters appertaining to the formation of the guardianship, be deemed to be the relatives of the adopted child, and, where an adoption order is made in respect of a child who is under guardianship, the Court shall order that the guardianship be reconstituted unless it is of the opinion that it is in the interests of the child that the guardianship be maintained.

(4) For the purposes of the law relating to marriage or civil partnership, an adopter and the person whom the adopter has been authorized to adopt under an adoption order shall be deemed to be within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity; and the provisions of this paragraph shall continue to have effect notwithstanding that some person other than the adopter is authorized by a subsequent order to adopt the same child.[62]

(5) Where, in the case of a child adopted under a Convention adoption, the Court is satisfied, on an application under this paragraph –

(a) that under the law of the country in which the adoption was effected the adoption is not a full adoption;

(b) that the consents referred to in Article 4(c) and (d) of the Convention have not been given for a full adoption, or that Jersey is not the receiving State (within the meaning of Article 2 of the Convention); and

the court may direct that the adoption shall have effect other than as a full adoption.[63]

(6) In paragraph (5) “full adoption” means an adoption by virtue of which the child falls to be treated in law as if he or she were not the child of any person other than the adopters or adopter.[64]

21 Friendly societies, insurance, etc.

(1) For the purposes of the enactments for the time being in force relating to friendly societies, collecting societies or industrial insurance companies, an adopter shall be deemed to be the parent of the child whom the adopter is authorized to adopt under an adoption order.

(2) Where, before the making of an adoption order in respect of a child, the natural parent of the child has effected an insurance with any such society or company for the payment, on the death of the child, of money for funeral expenses, the rights and liabilities under the policy shall by virtue of the adoption order be transferred to the adopter and the adopter shall, for the purposes of the said enactments, be treated as the person who took out the policy.

(3) In this Article “adoption order” means an adoption order made by a court of competent jurisdiction whether in Jersey or elsewhere.[65]

22 Orders and agreements for maintenance of illegitimate children

(1) Where an adoption order is made in respect of a child who is illegitimate, then, unless the adopter is the child’s mother and the mother is a single woman, any order or agreement whereby the father of the child is required or has undertaken to make payments specifically for the benefit of the child, shall cease to have effect, but without prejudice to the recovery of any arrears which are due under the order or agreement at the date of the adoption order.

(2) After an adoption order has been made in respect of a child who is illegitimate, no order requiring the father of the child to make payments specifically for the benefit of the child shall be made unless the adoption order was made on the application of the mother of the child alone.

23 Intestacies, etc.[66]

(1) Where, at any time after the making of an adoption order, the adopter or the adopted person or any other person dies intestate in respect of any real or personal property (other than personal property subject to an entailed interest under a disposition to which paragraph (3) does not apply), that property shall devolve in all respects as if the adopted person were the child of the adopter and were not the child of any other person.[67]

(2) For all the purposes of the law relating to the indefeasible right of a person to succeed to the personal property of the person’s ascendants, an adopted person shall be deemed to be the child of the adopter and not the child of any other person.[68]

(3) In any disposition of real or personal property made, whether by instrument inter vivos or by will (including codicil), after the date of an adoption order –

(a) any reference (whether express or implied) to the child or children of the adopter shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as, or as including, a reference to the adopted person;

(b) any reference (whether express or implied) to the child or children of the adopted person’s natural parents or either of them shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as not being, or as not including, a reference to the adopted person; and

(c) any reference (whether express or implied) to a person related to the adopted person in any degree shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as a reference to the person who would be related to the adopted person in that degree if the adopted person were the child of the adopter and were not the child of any other person.[69]

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3), a disposition made by will or codicil shall be treated as made on the date of the death of the testator.

(5) For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that an adopted child born before a natural child shall rank as principal heir in preference to the natural child.

(6) In the application of the law regarding the devolution of acquired real property (acquêts) and personal property (meubles) and for the purposes of the construction of any such disposition as is mentioned in this Article, an adopted person shall be deemed to be related to any other person being the child or adopted child of the adopter or (in the case of a joint adoption) of either of the adopters –

(a) where the adopted person was adopted by 2 spouses jointly or by both partners of a civil partnership jointly, and that other person is the child or adopted child of both of them, as brother or sister of the whole blood;

(b) in any other case, as brother or sister of the half-blood.[70]

(7) Notwithstanding anything in this Article, an executor of the will or an administrator of the personal estate of a deceased person may distribute any personal property to or among the persons entitled thereto without having ascertained that no adoption order has been made by virtue of which any person is or may be entitled to any interest therein, and shall not be liable to any such person of whose claim the executor of the will or an administrator of the personal estate has not had notice at the time of the distribution; but nothing in this paragraph shall prejudice the right of any such person to follow the property, or any property representing it, into the hands of any person who may have acquired it by means of devolution or descent.

(8) Where an adoption order is made in respect of a person who has been previously adopted, the previous adoption shall be disregarded for the purposes of this Article in relation to the devolution of any property on the intestacy of, or any right to the personal property of, any person dying after the date of the subsequent adoption order, and in relation to any disposition of property made, or taking effect on the death of a person dying, after that date.

(9) References in this Article to an adoption order and to an adopted person include references to an adoption order made before 24th November 1963 either under this Law or under the Adoption of Children (Jersey) Law 1947 and to a person adopted under such an order, but nothing in this Article shall affect the devolution of any property on the intestacy of, or any right to the personal property of, any person who died before that date, or affect any disposition made before that date.[71]

(10) In this Article “adoption order” means an adoption order made by a court of competent jurisdiction whether in Jersey or elsewhere.[72]

Part 4

Registration

24 Adopted Children Register

(1) The Superintendent Registrar shall maintain a register, to be called the Adopted Children Register, in which shall be made such entries as may be –

(a) directed to be made in it by adoption orders; or

(b) required to be made under Article 25,

and no other entries shall be made.[73]

(2) A certified copy of an entry in the Adopted Children Register, if purporting to be signed by the Superintendent Registrar shall, without any further or other proof of that entry, be received as evidence of the adoption to which it relates and, where the entry contains a record of the date of the birth or the country or the parish of the birth of the adopted person, shall also be received as aforesaid as evidence of that date or country or parish in all respects as if the copy were a certified copy of an entry in the Registers of Births.

(3) The Superintendent Registrar shall cause an index of the Adopted Children Register to be made and kept in the Superintendent Registrar’s office and every person shall be entitled to search that index and to have a certified copy of any entry in the Adopted Children Register in all respects upon and subject to the same terms and conditions as to payment of fees and otherwise as are applicable under the Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001 in respect of searches in other indexes kept in the office of the Superintendent Registrar and in respect of the supply by the Superintendent Registrar of certified copies of entries in the Registers of Births, Deaths and Marriages.[74]

(4) The Superintendent Registrar shall, in addition to the Adopted Children Register and the index thereof, keep such other registers and books, and make such entries therein, as may be necessary to record and make traceable the connection between any entry in the Registers of Births which has been marked “Adopted” pursuant to Article 25 or any enactment at the time in force, and any corresponding entry in the Adopted Children Register.

(5) The registers and books kept under paragraph (4) shall not be, nor shall any index thereof be, open to public inspection or search and, except under an order of the Royal Court, the Superintendent Registrar shall not furnish any person with any information contained in or with any copy or extract from any such registers or books.

25 Registration of adoptions

(1) Every adoption order shall contain a direction to the Superintendent Registrar to make in the Adopted Children Register an entry in the form set out in Schedule 1, and (subject to paragraph (2)) shall specify the particulars to be entered under the headings in columns 2 to 6 of that Schedule.

(2) For the purpose of compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1) –

(a) where the precise date of the child’s birth is not proved to the satisfaction of the Court, the Court shall determine the probable date of the child’s birth and the date so determined shall be specified in the order as the date of the child’s birth;

(b) where the country of birth of the child is not proved to the satisfaction of the Court, then, if it appears probable that the child was born within the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, the child shall be treated as having been born in Jersey, and in any other case the particulars of the country of birth may be omitted from the order and from the entry in the Adopted Children Register,

and the names to be specified in the order as the name and surname of the child shall be the name or names and surname stated in that behalf in the application for the adoption order, or, if no name or surname is so stated, the original name or names of the child and the surname of the applicant.

(3) The particulars to be entered in the Adopted Children Register under the heading in column 2 of Schedule 1 shall include, in the case of a child born in Jersey, the parish in which the birth took place; and where the child was born in Jersey but the parish in which the birth took place is not proved to the satisfaction of the Court, or where the child is treated by virtue of paragraph (2)(b) as born in Jersey, the child shall be treated for the purposes of this paragraph as born in the parish of St. Helier.

(4) Where upon any application for an adoption order in respect of a child (not being a child who has previously been the subject of an adoption order under this Law or the Adoption of Children (Jersey) Law 1947), there is proved to the satisfaction of the Court the identity of the child with a child to whom an entry in the Registers of Births relates, any adoption order made in pursuance of the application shall contain a direction to the Superintendent Registrar to cause the entry in the Registers of Births to be marked with the word “Adopted”.

(5) Where an adoption order is made in respect of a child who has previously been the subject of an adoption order made under this Law or any enactment at the time in force, the order shall contain a direction to the Superintendent Registrar to cause the previous entry in the Adopted Children Register to be marked with the word “Re-adopted”.

(6) The Judicial Greffier shall cause every adoption order to be communicated to the Superintendent Registrar, and upon receipt of the communication the Superintendent Registrar shall cause compliance to be made with the directions contained in the order.

(7) If the Superintendent-Registrar is satisfied, on an application under this paragraph, that he or she has sufficient particulars relating to a child adopted under a Convention or overseas adoption to enable an entry to be made in the Adopted Children Register for the child –

(a) he or she shall make the entry accordingly; and

(b) if he or she is also satisfied that an entry in the Registers of Births relates to the child, he or she shall secure that the entry in those Registers is marked “Adopted” or “Re-adopted”, as the case may be, followed by the name in brackets of the country in which the adoption was effected.[75]

26 Amendment of orders and rectification of registers

(1) The Court may, on the application of the adopter or of the adopted person, amend an adoption order by the correction of any error in the particulars contained therein, and may –

(a) if satisfied on the application of the adopter or of the adopted person that within one year beginning with the date of the order any new name has been given to the adopted person (whether in baptism or otherwise), or taken by the adopted person, either in lieu of or in addition to a name specified in the particulars required to be entered in the Adopted Children Register in pursuance of the order, amend the order by substituting or adding that name in those particulars, as the case may require;

(b) if satisfied on the application of any person concerned that a direction for the marking of an entry in the Registers of Births or the Adopted Children Register included in the order in pursuance of Article 25(4) or (5) was wrongly so included, revoke that direction.

(2) Where an adoption order is amended or a direction revoked under paragraph (1), the Judicial Greffier shall cause the amendment to be communicated to the Superintendent Registrar, who shall –

(a) cause the entry in the Adopted Children Register to be amended accordingly; or

(b) cause the marking of the entry in the Registers of Births or the Adopted Children Register to be cancelled.

(3) Where an adoption order has been amended, any certified copy of the relevant entry in the Adopted Children Register which may be issued pursuant to Article 24(3) shall be a copy of the entry as amended, without the reproduction of any note or marking relating to the amendment or of any matter cancelled pursuant thereto; and a copy or extract of an entry in any register, being an entry the marking of which has been cancelled, shall be deemed to be an accurate copy if and only if both the marking and the cancellation are omitted therefrom.

(4) If the Superintendent-Registrar is satisfied –

(a) that a Convention adoption, a Convention adoption order or an overseas adoption has ceased to have effect, whether on annulment or otherwise; or

(b) that any entry or mark was erroneously made in pursuance of Article 25(7) in any register mentioned in that paragraph,

he or she may cause such alterations to be made in that register as he or she considers are required in consequence of the cesser or to correct the error; and where an entry in the register is amended in pursuance of this paragraph, any copy or extract of the entry shall be deemed to be accurate if and only if it shows the entry as amended but without indicating that it has been amended.[76]

27 Adoption Contact Register[77]

(1) In this Article –

(a) “relative” means any person, other than an adoptive relative, who is related to the adopted person by blood, marriage or civil partnership; and

(b) “address” includes any address at or through which the person concerned may be contacted.[78]

(2) The Superintendent Registrar shall maintain at the Superintendent Registrar’s Office a register to be called the Adoption Contact Register.

(3) The register shall be in 2 parts –

(a) Part I: Adopted Persons; and

(b) Part II: Relatives.

(4) The Superintendent Registrar shall, on payment of such fee as the Minister may by order prescribe, enter in Part I of the register the name and address of any adopted person who fulfils the conditions set out in paragraph (5) and who gives notice that he or she wishes to contact any relative of his or hers.[79]

(5) The conditions referred to in paragraph (4) are that –

(a) a record of the adopted person’s birth is kept by the Superintendent Registrar; and

(b) the adopted person has attained the age of 18 years and –

(i) has been supplied by the Superintendent Registrar with information under Article 30, or

(ii) has satisfied the Superintendent Registrar that the adopted person has such information as is necessary to enable the adopted person to obtain a certified copy of the record of his or her birth.

(6) The Superintendent Registrar shall, on payment of such fee as the Minister may by order prescribe, enter in Part II of the register the name and address of any person who fulfils the conditions set out in paragraph (7) and who gives notice that he or she wishes to contact an adopted person.[80]

(7) The conditions referred to in paragraph (6) are that –

(a) a record of the adopted person’s birth is kept by the Superintendent Registrar; and

(b) the person giving notice under paragraph (6) has attained the age of 18 years and has satisfied the Superintendent Registrar that –

(i) the person is a relative of the adopted person, and

(ii) the person has such information as is necessary to enable him or her to obtain a certified copy of the record of the adopted person’s birth.

(8) The Superintendent Registrar shall, on receiving notice from any person named in an entry in the register that he or she wishes the entry to be cancelled, cancel the entry.

(9) Any notice given under this Article shall be in such form as may be determined by the Superintendent Registrar.

(10) The Superintendent Registrar shall transmit to an adopted person whose name is entered in Part I of the register the name and address of any relative in respect of whom there is an entry in Part II of the register.

(11) Any entry cancelled under paragraph (8) ceases from the time of cancellation to be an entry for the purposes of paragraph (10).

(12) The register shall not be open to public inspection or search and the Superintendent Registrar shall not supply any person with information entered in the register whether in an uncancelled or a cancelled entry except in accordance with this Article.

(13) The register may be kept by means of a computer.

28 Recording of change of name in Public Registry of Contracts

Where, by virtue of Article 25 or 26, the name of an adopted child is changed, then, if the name of the child is recorded in the books of the Public Registry of Contracts, the Judicial Greffier shall record the change of name in those books in such manner as the Court may direct.

29 Registration of baptism

Where a child in respect of whom an adoption order has been made is baptised, the entry to be made in the Register of Baptisms shall describe the child as the adopted son or daughter of the person or persons by whom the adopted person was adopted, instead of as the son or daughter of the natural parents.

30 Disclosure of birth records of adopted children[81]

(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the Superintendent Registrar shall on an application made in such manner as the Minister may by order prescribe by an adopted person a record of whose birth is kept by the Superintendent Registrar and who has attained the age of 18 years supply to him or her on payment of such fee as the Minister may by order prescribe such information as is necessary to enable that person to obtain a certified copy of the record of his or her birth.[82]

(2) On an application made in such manner as the Minister may by order prescribe by an adopted person under the age of 18 years, a record of whose birth is kept by the Superintendent Registrar and who is intending to be married or to form a civil partnership in Jersey, and on payment of such fee as the Minister may by order prescribe the Superintendent Registrar shall inform the applicant whether or not it appears from information contained in the registers of live births or other records that the applicant and the intended spouse or intended civil partner may be within the degrees of relationship prohibited or restricted by Articles 3, 4, and 5 of the Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001 or by Article 4 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Civil Partnership (Jersey) Law 2012.[83]

(3) Where an application for information is made under paragraph (1) –

(a) where the applicant was adopted prior to 1st January 2007, paragraph (4) shall apply;

(b) in any other case, paragraph (5) shall apply.[84]

(4) Where this paragraph applies –

(a) it shall be the duty of the Minister to provide counselling services to the applicant, if requested by the applicant to do so; and

(b) the Superintendent Registrar shall not supply the information unless the applicant has attended a counselling interview so provided.[85]

(5) Where this paragraph applies –

(a) before supplying any information to the applicant, the Superintended Registrar shall inform the applicant that counselling services provided by the Minister are available to the applicant; and

(b) it shall be the duty of the Minister to provide such services to the applicant if requested by the applicant to do so.[86]

31 Legitimation: revocation of adoption orders and cancellations in registers

(1) Where any person adopted by his or her father or mother alone has subsequently become a legitimated person on the marriage of his or her father and mother, the Court may, on the application of any of the parties concerned, revoke the relevant adoption order.

(2) Where an adoption order is revoked under this Article, the Judicial Greffier shall communicate the revocation to the Superintendent Registrar who shall cancel –

(a) the entry in the Adopted Children Register relating to the adopted person; and

(b) the marking with the word “Adopted” of any entry relating to the adopted person in the Registers of Births,

and a copy or extract of an entry in any register, being an entry the marking of which is cancelled under this Article, shall be deemed to be an accurate copy if and only if both the marking and the cancellation are omitted therefrom.

(3) Where any person legitimated by virtue of Article 2 of the Legitimacy (Jersey) Law 1963, had been adopted by his or her father and mother before 16th July 1963, the Court may, on the application of any of the parties concerned, revoke the adoption order.[87]

(4) The revocation of an adoption order under this Article shall not affect the operation of Article 23 in relation to an intestacy which occurred, or a disposition which was made, before the revocation.[88]

32 Legitimation: marking of entries on re-registration of births

Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 31 of this Law, where after an entry in the Registers of Births has been marked with the word “Adopted”, the birth is re-registered under Article 56 or 57 of the Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001, the entry made on the re-registration shall be marked in the like manner.[89]

part 4a[90]

restrictions on disclosure of information relating to adoption

32A Restriction on disclosure of certain information

(1) In this Part, “restricted information” means information about a person (the “subject”) of a description to which either paragraph (4) or paragraph (5) applies.

(2) Restricted information of a description to which paragraph (4) applies shall not be disclosed to any person other than the subject, except as expressly permitted by this Part.

(3) Subject to paragraph (9), restricted information of a description to which paragraph (5) applies shall not be disclosed to any person except as expressly permitted by this Part.

(4) This paragraph applies to information kept by the Adoption Service –

(a) which relates to an adopted person or any other person; and

(b) which is, or includes, identifying information.

(5) This paragraph applies to information kept by the Adoption Service –

(a) in or in relation to an entry in respect of an adopted person in the Adopted Children Register; or

(b) which would enable an adopted person to obtain a certified copy of the record of his or her birth (whether the Adoption Agency obtained the information from the Superintendent Registrar, or otherwise).

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (4), “identifying information” in relation to any person means information by which, whether taken on its own or together with any other information, identifies that person or enables that person to be identified.

(7) The Adoption Service may, for the proper exercise of any of its functions, disclose information which is not restricted information to any person, in accordance with such arrangements as the Minister may direct.

(8) The Minister may by Order authorize or require the Adoption Service to disclose restricted information to a person who is not the subject.

(9) The prohibitions in paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not prejudice any right to disclosure of information conferred on a person by Article 30 or by any other enactment.

(10) Where a person discloses restricted information in contravention of the prohibition in paragraph (2) or (3), the person is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.[91]

32B Right of adopted person to obtain documents from Court

(1) An adopted person may, by an application made for the purpose in the prescribed form, apply to the Court for copies of any documents relating to his or her adoption, including Orders of the Court, such as may be prescribed.

(2) On an application duly made under paragraph (1) the Court shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, supply to the adopted person (subject to paragraph (3)) copies of the documents requested.

(3) A document shall not be supplied under paragraph (2) if or to the extent that it contains restricted information about any person other than the applicant, unless restricted information of a prescribed description is redacted from the document so that it cannot be read or otherwise retrieved.

32C Disclosure in certain circumstances of restricted information about adults

(1) This Article applies where a person makes a request to the Adoption Service, by an application in such form as the Adoption Service may publish for the purpose, for disclosure to him or her of restricted information about –

(a) himself or herself; or

(b) another person, who is not a child at the date on which the application is made.

(2) The Adoption Service is not required to proceed with an application under paragraph (1) unless, having regard to all the circumstances and in particular to –

(a) the welfare of the adopted person concerned; and

(b) any further matters such as may be prescribed by the Minister by Order,

it is considered appropriate to do so.

(3) If the Adoption Service does proceed with the application it must take such steps as are reasonable to obtain the subject’s views as to the proposed disclosure.

(4) If, having regard to all the circumstances and in particular –

(a) the welfare of the adopted person concerned;

(b) any views obtained under paragraph (3); and

it is considered appropriate to do so, and subject to Article 32E, the Adoption Service may disclose the information requested.

(5) For the avoidance of doubt this Article does not apply –

(a) to a request for information under any other provisions as to disclosure in or under this Law; nor

(b) to a request for information which the Adoption Service may be authorized or required to provide by any Order made under Article 42(2)(f).

32D Disclosure in certain circumstances of restricted information about children

(2) The Adoption Service is not required to proceed with an application under paragraph (1) unless it is considered appropriate to do so, having regard to all the circumstances and in particular to –

(a) the welfare of any adopted person concerned; and

(b) any further matters such as may be prescribed by the Minister by Order.

(3) If the Adoption Service does proceed with the application it must take such steps as are reasonable to obtain the views of the following persons as to the proposed disclosure, namely –

(a) in a case where the subject is still a child –

(i) any parent or guardian of the subject, and

(ii) the subject, if the Adoption Service considers it appropriate to do so having regard to the subject’s age, understanding and all other circumstances;

(b) in a case where the subject has attained the age of 18 years, the subject.

(4) Subject to Article 32E, the Adoption Service may disclose the information requested if it is considered appropriate to do so, having regard to all the circumstances and in particular to –

(a) the welfare of any child (which shall be the paramount consideration);

(b) any views obtained under paragraph (3); and

(5) For the avoidance of doubt this Article does not apply –

(a) to a request for information under any other provisions as to disclosure in or under this Law; nor

(b) to a request for information which the Adoption Service may be authorized or required to provide by any Order made under Article 42(2)(f).

32E Counselling services to be provided

(1) Before supplying any information to an applicant under this Part, the Adoption Service shall inform the applicant that counselling services provided by the Minister are available to the applicant.

(2) Where an adopted person applies for information under this Part it shall be the duty of the Minister to provide counselling services for that person if requested by him or her to do so.

Part 5

Supervision of Children Awaiting Adoption

33 Meaning of protected child

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, where notice of intention to apply for an adoption order in respect of a child is given under Article 15(2), then, while the child has his or her home with the person giving the notice, the child is a protected child for the purposes of Articles 34 to 38.[92]

(2) A child is not a protected child by reason of any such notice as is mentioned in paragraph (1) while –

(a) he or she is in the care of any person –

(i) in any children’s home,

(ii) in any school where he or she is receiving full-time education,

(iii) in a hospital or approved establishment; or

(b) he or she is –

(i) suffering from a mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health (Jersey) Law 2016, and

(ii) resident in accommodation provided as part of a care home service within the meaning of paragraph 4 or a children’s home service within the meaning of paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014;

(3) In sub-paragraph (2) “approved establishment”, “hospital” and “school” have the same meaning as in the Children (Jersey) Law 2002.[94]

(4) A protected child ceases to be a protected child –

(a) on the grant or refusal of the application for an adoption order;

(b) on the notification to the Minister that the application for an adoption order has been withdrawn;

(c) in a case where no application is made for an adoption order, on the expiry of a period of 2 years from the giving of the notice;

(d) on the making of a residence order, a care order or a supervision order (other than an interim care order or an interim supervision order) under the Children (Jersey) Law 2002 in respect of the child;

(e) on the appointment of a guardian for him or her under that Law;

(f) on his or her attaining the age of majority;

(g) on his or her marriage; or

(h) on becoming a civil partner,

whichever first occurs.[95]

34 Duty to secure well-being of protected children

It shall be the duty of the Minister to secure that protected children are visited from time to time by officers employed by an administration of the States for which the Minister is assigned responsibility, who shall satisfy themselves as to the well-being of the children and give such advice as to their care and maintenance as may appear to be needed.

35 Power to inspect premises

Any officer of an administration of the States for which the Minister is assigned responsibility generally or specially authorized in writing in that behalf shall be entitled, subject to the production by the officer if so required of evidence of his or her authority, to enter and inspect any premises in which protected children are to be or are being kept.

36 Notices and information to be given to the Minister

(1) Where a person with whom a protected child has his or her home changes his or her permanent address, the person shall, not less than 2 weeks before the change, or, if the change is made in an emergency, not later than one week after the change, give to the Minister notice in writing specifying the new address.[96]

(2) If a protected child dies, the person with whom the child had his or her home at his or her death shall within 48 hours of the death give to the Minister notice in writing of the death.[97]

(3) A person with whom a protected child has, or is proposed to have, his or her home shall at the request of the Minister give to the Minister the following particulars, so far as known to the person, that is to say, the name, sex and date and place of birth of the child, and the name and address of every person who is a parent or guardian or acts as a guardian of the child or from whom the child has been or is to be received.[98]

37 [99]

38 Offences in relation to protected children

(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if –

(a) being required, under any provision of Article 36, to give any notice or information, the person fails to give the notice within the time specified in that provision or fails to give the information within a reasonable time, or knowingly makes or causes or procures another person to make any false or misleading statement in the notice or information; or

(b) the person refuses to allow the visiting of a protected child by a duly authorized officer of an administration of the States for which the Minister is assigned responsibility or the inspection, under the power conferred by Article 35, of any premises. [100]

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this Article shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 6 months and to a fine.[101]

Part 6

Miscellaneous

39 Prohibition of certain payments

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, 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 consent required in connection with the adoption of a child;

(d) the making by that person of any arrangements for the adoption of a child.[102]

(2) Any person who makes or gives, or agrees or offers to make or give any payment or reward prohibited by this Article, or who receives or agrees to receive or attempts to obtain any such payment or reward, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 6 months and to a fine.[103]

(3) This Article does not apply to any payment made to an administration of the States or a parochial authority 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 administration of the States or parochial authority in connection with the adoption of the child, or to any payment or reward authorized by the Court to which an application for an adoption order in respect of a child is made.

(4) This Article does not apply to any allowance paid by the Minister pursuant to Article 9.[104]

39A Restriction on bringing children into Jersey for adoption[105]

(1) A person habitually resident in the British Islands who at any time brings into Jersey for the purpose of adoption a child who is habitually resident outside those Islands shall be guilty of an offence unless such requirements as may be prescribed by Order made by the Minister are satisfied either –

(a) before that time; or

(b) within such period beginning with that time as may be so prescribed.

(2) Paragraph (1) of this Article does not apply where the child is brought into Jersey for the purpose of adoption by a parent, guardian or relative.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this Article shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 3 months and to a fine.[106]

39B Annulment etc. of overseas adoptions[107]

(1) The Court may, upon application under this Article, by order annul a Convention adoption or a Convention adoption order on the ground that the adoption or order is contrary to public policy.

(2) The Court may, upon application under this paragraph –

(a) order that an overseas adoption or a determination shall cease to be valid in Jersey on the ground that the adoption or determination is contrary to public policy or that the authority which purported to authorize the adoption or make the determination was not competent to entertain the case;

(b) decide the extent, if any, to which a determination has been affected by a subsequent determination.

(3) Any court in Jersey may, in any proceedings in that court, decide that an overseas adoption or a determination shall, for the purposes of those proceedings, be treated as invalid in Jersey on either of the grounds mentioned in paragraph (2).

(4) Except as provided by this Article the validity of a Convention adoption, a Convention adoption order or an overseas adoption shall not be impugned in Jersey in proceedings in any court.

(5) In this Article “determination” means a determination mentioned in Article 39C.

39C Effect of determination and orders made in other parts of the British Islands and overseas[108]

(1) Where –

(a) an authority of a Convention country having power under the law of that country –

(i) to authorize, or review the authorization of, a Convention adoption, or

(ii) to give or review a decision revoking or annulling such an adoption or a Convention adoption order; or

(b) an authority of any other part of the British Islands or any colony having power under the law of that territory –

(i) to authorize, or review the authorization of, a Convention adoption or an adoption effected in that territory, or

(ii) to give or review a decision revoking or annulling such an adoption or a Convention adoption order,

makes a determination in the exercise of that power, then, subject to Article 39B and any subsequent determination having effect under this Article, the determination shall have effect in Jersey for the purpose of effecting, confirming or terminating the adoption in question or confirming its termination as the case may be.

40 Restriction on removal of children for adoption outside British Islands

(1) Except under the authority of an order under Article 41, it shall not be lawful for any person to take or send a child who is a British subject out of Jersey to any place outside the British Islands with a view to the adoption of the child (whether in law or in fact) by any person not being a parent or guardian or relative of the child; and any person who takes or sends a child out of Jersey to any place in contravention of this paragraph, or makes or takes part in any arrangements placing a child with any person for that purpose, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 6 months and to a fine.[109]

(2) In any proceedings under this Article, a report by a British consular officer or a deposition made before a British consular officer and authenticated under the signature of that officer shall, upon proof that the officer or the deponent cannot be found in Jersey, be admissible as evidence of the matters stated therein, and it shall not be necessary to prove the signature or official character of the person who appears to have signed any such report or deposition.

41 Provisional adoption by persons domiciled outside Jersey

(1) If the Court is satisfied, upon an application being made by a person who is not domiciled in Jersey, that the applicant intends to adopt a child under the law of or within the country in which the applicant is domiciled, and for that purpose desires to remove the child from Jersey either immediately or after an interval, the Court may, subject to the provisions of this Article, make an order (in this Article referred to as a “provisional adoption order”) authorizing the applicant to remove the child for the purpose aforesaid, and giving to the applicant parental responsibility for the child pending his or her adoption as aforesaid.[110]

(2) A provisional adoption order may be made in any case where, apart from the domicile of the applicant, an adoption order could be made in respect of the child under this Law, but shall not be made in any other case.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Article, the provisions of this Law, other than this Article and Article 23, shall apply in relation to a provisional adoption order as they apply in relation to an adoption order, and references in those provisions to adoption, to an adoption order, to an application or applicant for such an order and to an adopter or a person adopted or authorized to be adopted under such an order shall be construed accordingly.

(4) In relation to a provisional adoption order, Article 15(1) and (2) shall have effect as if for the word “3”, where it occurs in those paragraphs, there were substituted the word “6”.

(5) Any entry in the Registers of Births or the Adopted Children Register which is required to be marked in consequence of the making of a provisional adoption order shall, in lieu of being marked with the word “Adopted” or “Re-adopted” be marked with the words “Provisionally adopted” or “Provisionally re-adopted” as the case may require.

42 Orders[111]

(1) The Minister may make Orders for any purpose for which Orders may be made under this Law and generally for the purposes of carrying this Law into effect.

(1A) Orders under this Law may –

(a) make different provision for different purposes or areas; and

(b) make such incidental, supplementary, consequential or transitional provision as appears to the Minister to be expedient.[112]

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), Orders may specify –

(a) the procedures to be followed by the panel;

(b) the circumstances the panel shall take into account in recommending to the Minister the payment of an allowance;

(d) the information which the Adoption Service must keep in relation to an adoption and the form and manner in which it must be kept;

(e) the transfer of information held by the Adoption Service to any other approved adoption society;

(f) the circumstances in which the Adoption Service may be authorized or required to disclose restricted information to a person who is not an adopted person; and

(g) the amounts of any fees, and the circumstances in which any fees are payable, in relation to requests for disclosure of information under Part 4A.[113]

(3) [114]

43 Service of notices, etc.

Any notice or information required to be given under this Law may be given by post.

44 Extension of enactments referring to adoption[115]

(1) Any provision, however expressed, in any enactment passed before 25th June 1965 under which a person adopted in pursuance of an adoption order is for any purpose treated as the child of the adopter, or any other relationship is deduced by reference to such an order, shall have effect, as respects anything done or any event occurring on or after 25th June 1965, if it extends only to adoptions in pursuance of orders made in Jersey, as extending also to adoptions in pursuance of orders made, whether before or on or after 25th June 1965, in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Bailiwick of Guernsey, and Article 23(7) shall extend to any such order as is mentioned in this paragraph.

(2) An order authorizing adoption made outside Jersey on or after 25th June 1965 shall also have the same effect as an adoption order for the purposes of Article 21(2) and Articles 22 and 29, if the order is made in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

(3) Where a person adopted in pursuance of an order made, whether before or on or after 25th June 1965, in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Bailiwick of Guernsey has subsequently become a legitimated person, and the order is then revoked, the revocation shall not affect the operation of Article 23 as extended by paragraph (1) in relation to an intestacy which occurred, or a disposition which was made, before the revocation.

(4) Any such provision as is mentioned in paragraph (1) which, by virtue of Article 41(3) applies in relation to orders under that Article shall, as respects anything done on or after 25th June 1965, apply also in relation to similar orders made, whether before or after the commencement of this Law, in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Bailiwick of Guernsey, and shall be construed accordingly, and any such order made on or after 25th June 1965 shall also have the same effect as an adoption order for the purposes of the provisions mentioned in paragraph (2).

45 Evidence of adoptions, etc.[116]

Any document which, under a provision of any enactment of the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Bailiwick of Guernsey corresponding to Article 24(2) is receivable as evidence of any matter in any part of the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Bailiwick of Guernsey, as the case may be, shall be so receivable in Jersey.

46 Registration of adoptions outside Jersey[117]

(1) Where the Superintendent Registrar is notified by the authority maintaining a register of adoptions in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Bailiwick of Guernsey that an order has been made in that country authorizing the adoption of a child to whom an entry in the Registers of Births or the Adopted Children Register relates, the Superintendent Registrar shall cause the entry to be marked with the words “Adopted” or “Re-adopted”, as the case may require, followed by the name, in brackets, of the country in which the order was made.

(2) Where, after an entry has been so marked, the Superintendent Registrar is notified as aforesaid that the order has been quashed, that an appeal against the order has been allowed or that the order has been revoked, the Superintendent Registrar shall cause the marking to be cancelled, and a copy or extract of an entry in any register, being an entry the marking of which is cancelled under this paragraph, shall be deemed to be an accurate copy or extract if and only if both the marking and the cancellation are omitted therefrom.

(3) The preceding provisions of this Article shall apply in relation to orders corresponding to orders under Article 41 as they apply in relation to orders authorizing the adoption of a child:

Provided that any marking of an entry required by virtue of this paragraph shall consist of the word “Provisionally” followed by the words mentioned in paragraph (1).

(4) Without prejudice to paragraphs (2) and (3), where, after an entry in the Registers of Births has been marked in accordance with this Article, the birth is re-registered under Article 56 or 57 of the Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001, the entry on the re-registration shall be marked in the like manner.[118]

47 Citation

This Law may be cited as the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961.

Schedule 1

(Article 25)

FORM OF ENTRY IN ADOPTED CHILDREN REGISTER

Form of entry in adopted children register

Schedule 2

(Article 11A(2))

CONVENTION ON PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND CO-OPERATION IN RESPECT OF INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION

The States signatory to the present Convention,

Recognizing that the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding,

Recalling that each State should take, as a matter of priority, appropriate measures to enable the child to remain in the care of his or her family of origin,

Recognizing that intercountry adoption may offer the advantage of a permanent family to a child for whom a suitable family cannot be found in his or her State of origin,

Convinced of the necessity to take measures to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and with respect for his or her fundamental rights, and to prevent the abduction, the sale of, or traffic in children,

Desiring to establish common provisions to this effect, taking into account the principles set forth in international instruments, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, of 20 November 1989, and the 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 (General Assembly Resolution 41/85, of 3 December 1986),

Have agreed upon the following provisions –

CHAPTER I

SCOPE OF THE CONVENTION

Article 1

The objects of the present Convention are –

(a) to establish safeguards to ensure that intercountry adoptions take place in the best interests of the child and with respect for his or her fundamental rights as recognised in international law;

(b) to establish a system of co-operation amongst Contracting States to ensure that those safeguards are respected and thereby prevent the abduction, the sale of, or traffic in children;

Article 2

1. The Convention shall apply where a child habitually resident in one Contracting State (‘the State of origin’) has been, is being, or is to be moved to another Contracting State (‘the receiving State’) either after his or her adoption in the State of origin by spouses or a person habitually resident in the receiving State, or for the purposes of such an adoption in the receiving State or in the State of origin.

2. The Convention covers only adoptions which create a permanent parent-child relationship.

Article 3

The Convention ceases to apply if the agreements mentioned in Article 17, sub-paragraph (c), have not been given before the child attains the age of eighteen years.

CHAPTER II

REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS

Article 4

An adoption within the scope of the Convention shall take place only if the competent authorities of the State of origin –

(a) have established that the child is adoptable;

(b) have determined, after possibilities for placement of the child within the State of origin have been given due consideration, that an intercountry adoption is in the child’s best interest;

(i) the persons, institutions and authorities whose consent is necessary for adoption, have been counselled as may be necessary and duly informed of the effects of their consent, in particular whether or not an adoption will result in the termination of the legal relationship between the child and his or her family of origin,

(ii) such persons, institutions and authorities have given their consent freely, in the required legal form, and expressed or evidenced in writing,

(iii) the consents have not been induced by payment or compensation of any kind and have not been withdrawn, and

(iv) the consent of the mother, where required, has been given only after the birth of the child; and

(d) have ensured, having regard to the age and degree of maturity of the child, that –

(i) he or she has been counselled and duly informed of the effects of the adoption and of his or her consent to the adoption, where such consent is required,

(ii) consideration has been given to the child’s wishes and opinions.

(iii) the child’s consent to the adoption, where such consent is required, has been given freely, in the required legal form, and expressed or evidenced in writing, and

(iv) such consent has not been induced by payment or compensation of any kind.

Article 5

An adoption within the scope of the Convention shall take place only if the competent authorities of the receiving State –

(a) have determined that the prospective adoptive parents are eligible and suited to adopt;

(b) have ensured that the prospective adoptive parents have been counselled as may be necessary; and

CHAPTER III

CENTRAL AUTHORITIES AND ACCREDITED BODIES

Article 6

1. A Contracting State shall designate a Central Authority to discharge the duties which are imposed by the Convention upon such authorities.

2. Federal States, States with more than one system of law or States having autonomous territorial units shall be free to appoint more than one Central Authority and to specify the territorial or personal extent of their functions. Where a State has appointed more than one Central Authority, it shall designate the Central Authority to which any communication may be addressed for transmission to the appropriate Central Authority within that State.

Article 7

1. Central Authorities shall co-operate with each other and promote co-operation amongst the competent authorities in their States to protect children and to achieve the other objects of the Convention.

2. They shall take directly all appropriate measures to –

(a) provide information as to the laws of their States concerning adoption and other general information, such as statistics and standard forms;

(b) keep one another informed about the operation of the Convention and, as far as possible, eliminate any obstacles to its application.

Article 8

Central Authorities shall take, directly or through public authorities, all appropriate measures to prevent improper financial or other gain in connection with an adoption and to deter all practices contrary to the objects of the Convention.

Article 9

Central Authorities shall take, directly or through public authorities or other bodies duly accredited in their State, all appropriate measures, in particular to –

(a) collect, preserve and exchange information about the situation of the child and the prospective adoptive parents, so far as is necessary to complete the adoption;

(b) facilitate, follow and expedite proceedings with a view to obtaining the adoption;

(d) provide each other with general evaluation reports about experience with intercountry adoption;

(e) reply, in so far as is permitted by the law of their State, to justified requests from other Central Authorities or public authorities for information about a particular adoption situation.

Article 10

Accreditation shall only be granted to and maintained by bodies demonstrating their competence to carry out properly the tasks with which they may be entrusted.

Article 11

An accredited body shall –

(a) pursue only non-profit objectives according to such conditions and within such limits as may be established by the competent authorities of the State of accreditation;

(b) be directed and staffed by persons qualified by their ethical standards and by training or experience to work in the field of intercountry adoption; and

(c) be subject to supervision by competent authorities of that State as to its composition, operation and financial situation.

Article 12

A body accredited in one Contracting State may act in another Contracting State only if the competent authorities of both States have authorised it to do so.

Article 13

The designation of the Central Authorities and, where appropriate, the extent of their functions, as well as the names and addresses of the accredited bodies shall be communicated by each Contracting State to the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

CHAPTER IV

PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS IN INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION

Article 14

Persons habitually resident in a Contracting State, who wish to adopt a child habitually resident in another Contracting State, shall apply to the Central Authority in the State of their habitual residence.

Article 15

1. If the Central Authority of the receiving State is satisfied that the applicants are eligible and suited to adopt, it shall prepare a report including information about their identity, eligibility and suitability to adopt, background, family and medical history, social environment, reasons for adoption, ability to undertake an intercountry adoption, as well as the characteristics of the children for whom they would be qualified to care.

2. It shall transmit the report to the Central Authority of the State of origin.

Article 16

1. If the Central Authority of the State of origin is satisfied that the child is adoptable, it shall –

(a) prepare a report including information about his or her identity, adoptability, background, social environment, family history, medical history including that of the child’s family, and any special needs of the child;

(b) give due consideration to the child’s upbringing and to his or her ethnic, religious and cultural background;

(d) determine, on the basis in particular of the reports relating to the child and the prospective adoptive parents, whether the envisaged placement is in the best interests of the child.

2. It shall transmit to the Central Authority of the receiving State its report on the child, proof that the necessary consents have been obtained and the reasons for its determination on the placement, taking care not to reveal the identity of the mother and the father if, in the State of origin, these identities may not be disclosed.

Article 17

Any decision in the State of origin that a child should be entrusted to prospective adoptive parents may only be made if –

(a) the Central Authority of that State has ensured that the prospective adoptive parents agree;

(b) the Central Authority of the receiving State has approved such decision, where such approval is required by the law of that State or by the Central Authority of the State of origin;

(d) it has been determined, in accordance with Article 5, that the prospective adoptive parents are eligible and suited to adopt and that the child is or will be authorised to enter and reside permanently in the receiving State.

Article 18

The Central Authorities of both States shall take all necessary steps to obtain permission for the child to leave the State of origin and to enter and reside permanently in the receiving State.

Article 19

1. The transfer of the child to the receiving State may only be carried out if the requirements of Article 17 have been satisfied.

2. The Central Authorities of both States shall ensure that this transfer takes place in secure and appropriate circumstances and, if possible, in the company of the adoptive or prospective adoptive parents.

3. If the transfer of the child does not take place, the reports referred to in Articles 15 and 16 are to be sent back to the authorities who forwarded them.

Article 20

The Central Authorities shall keep each other informed about the adoption process and the measures taken to complete it, as well as about the progress of the placement if a probationary period is required.

Article 21

1. Where the adoption is to take place after the transfer of the child to the receiving State and it appears to the Central Authority of that State that the continued placement of the child with the prospective adoptive parents is not in the child’s best interests, such Central Authority shall take the measures necessary to protect the child, in particular –

(a) to cause the child to be withdrawn from the prospective adoptive parents and to arrange temporary care;

(b) in consultation with the Central Authority of the State of origin, to arrange without delay a new placement of the child with a view to adoption or, if this is not appropriate, to arrange alternative long-term care; an adoption shall not take place until the Central Authority of the State of origin has been duly informed concerning the new prospective adoptive parents;

2. Having regard in particular to the age and degree of maturity of the child, he or she shall be consulted and, where appropriate, his or her consent obtained in relation to measures to be taken under this Article.

Article 22

1. The functions of a Central Authority under this Chapter may be performed by public authorities or by bodies accredited under Chapter III, to the extent permitted by the law of its State.

2. Any Contracting State may declare to the depositary of the Convention that the functions of the Central Authority under Articles 15 to 21 may be performed in that State, to the extent permitted by the law and subject to the supervision of the competent authorities of that State, also by bodies or persons who –

(a) meet the requirements of integrity, professional competence, experience and accountability of that State; and

(b) are qualified by their ethical standards and by training or experience to work in the field of intercountry adoption.

3. A Contracting State which makes the declaration provided for in paragraph 2 shall keep the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law informed of the names and addresses of these bodies and persons.

4. Any Contracting State may declare to the depositary of the Convention that adoptions of children habitually resident in its territory may only take place if the functions of the Central Authorities are performed in accordance with paragraph 1.

5. Notwithstanding any declaration made under paragraph 2, the reports provided for in Articles 15 and 16 shall, in every case, be prepared under the responsibility of the Central Authority or other authorities or bodies in accordance with paragraph 1.

CHAPTER V

RECOGNITION AND EFFECTS OF THE ADOPTION

Article 23

1. An adoption certified by the competent authority of the State of the adoption as having been made in accordance with the Convention shall be recognised by operation of law in the other Contracting States. The certificate shall specify when and by whom the agreements under Article 17, sub-paragraph c, were given.

2. Each Contracting State shall, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, notify the depositary of the Convention of the identity and the functions of the authority or the authorities which, in that State, are competent to make the certification. It shall also notify the depositary of any modification in the designation of these authorities.

Article 24

The recognition of an adoption may be refused in a contracting State only if the adoption is manifestly contrary to its public policy, taking into account the best interests of the child.

Article 25

Any Contracting State may declare to the depositary of the convention that it will not be bound under this Convention to recognise adoptions made in accordance with an agreement concluded by application of Article 39, paragraph 2.

Article 26

1. The recognition of an adoption includes recognition of

(a) the legal parent-child relationship between the child and his or her adoptive parents;

(b) parental responsibility of the adoptive parents for the child;

(c) the termination of a pre-existing legal relationship between the child and his or her mother and father, if the adoption has this effect in the Contracting State where it was made.

2. In the case of an adoption having the effect of terminating a pre-existing legal parent-child relationship, the child shall enjoy in the receiving State, and in any other Contracting State where the adoption is recognised, rights equivalent to those resulting from adoptions having this effect in each such State.

3. The preceding paragraphs shall not prejudice the application of any provision more favourable for the child, in force in the Contracting State which recognises the adoption.

Article 27

1. Where an adoption granted in the State of origin does not have the effect of terminating a pre-existing legal parent-child relationship, it may, in the receiving State which recognises the adoption under the Convention, be converted into an adoption having such an effect –

(a) if the law of the receiving State so permits; and

(b) if the consents referred to in Article 4, sub-paragraphs c and d, have been or are given for the purpose of such an adoption.

2. Article 23 applies to the decision converting the adoption.

CHAPTER VI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 28

The Convention does not affect any law of a State of origin which requires that the adoption of a child habitually resident within that State take place in that State or which prohibits the child’s placement in, or transfer to, the receiving State prior to adoption.

Article 29

There shall be no contact between the prospective adoptive parents and the child’s parents or any other person who has care of the child until the requirements of Article 4, sub-paragraphs a to c, and Article 5, sub-paragraph a, have been met, unless the adoption takes place within a family or unless the contact is in compliance with the conditions established by the competent authority of the State of origin.

Article 30

1. The competent authorities of a Contracting State shall ensure that information held by them concerning the child’s origin, in particular information concerning the identity of his or her parents, as well as the medical history, is preserved.

2. They shall ensure that the child or his or her representative has access to such information, under appropriate guidance, in so far as is permitted by the law of that State.

Article 31

Without prejudice to Article 30, personal data gathered or transmitted under the Convention, especially data referred to in Articles 15 and 16, shall be used only for the purposes for which they were gathered or transmitted.

Article 32

1. No one shall derive improper financial or other gain from an activity related to an intercountry adoption.

2. Only costs and expenses, including reasonable professional fees of persons involved in the adoption, may be charged or paid.

3. The directors, administrators and employees of bodies involved in an adoption shall not receive remuneration which is unreasonably high in relation to services rendered.

Article 33

A competent authority which finds that any provision of the Convention has not been respected or that there is a serious risk that it may not be respected, shall immediately inform the Central Authority of its State. This Central Authority shall be responsible for ensuring that appropriate measures are taken.

Article 34

If the competent authority of the State of destination of a document so requests, a translation certified as being in conformity with the original must be furnished. Unless otherwise provided, the costs of such translation are to be borne by the prospective adoptive parents.

Article 35

The competent authorities of the contracting States shall act expeditiously in the process of adoption.

Article 36

In relation to a State which has two or more systems of law with regard to adoption applicable in different territorial units –

(a) any reference to habitual residence in that State shall be construed as referring to habitual residence in a territorial unit of that State;

(b) any reference to the law of that State shall be construed as referring to the law in force in the relevant territorial unit;

(c) any reference to the competent authorities or to the public authorities of that State shall be construed as referring to those authorised to act in the relevant territorial unit;

(d) any reference to the accredited bodies of that State shall be construed as referring to bodies accredited in the relevant unit.

Article 37

In relation to a State which with regard to adoption has two or more systems of law applicable to different categories of persons, any reference to the law of that State shall be construed as referring to the legal system specified by the law of that State.

Article 38

A State within which different territorial units have their own rules of law in respect of adoption shall not be bound to apply the Convention where a State with a unified system of law would not be bound to do so.

Article 39

1. The convention does not affect any international instrument to which Contracting States are Parties and which contains provisions on matters governed by the Convention, unless a contrary declaration is made by the States parties to such instrument.

2. Any Contracting State may enter into agreements with one or more other Contracting States, with a view to improving the application of the Convention in their mutual relations. These agreements may derogate only from the provisions of Articles 14 to 16 and 18 to 21. The States which have concluded such an agreement shall transmit a copy to the depositary of the Convention.

Article 40

No reservation to the Convention shall be permitted.

Article 41

The Convention shall apply in every case where an application pursuant to Article 14 has been received after the Convention has entered into force in the receiving State and the State of origin.

Article 42

The Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law shall at regular intervals convene a Special Commission in order to review the practical operation of the Convention.

ENDNOTES

Table of Legislation History

Legislation	Year and No	Commencement	◦Projet No (where applicable)
Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961	L.39/1961	1 March 1962 (R&O.4334)
Adoption (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 1963	L.13/1963	24 November 1963
Adoption (Jersey) Law 1965	L.10/1965	25 June 1965
Adoption (No. 2) (Jersey) Law 1966	L.5/1966	25 March 1966
Mental Health (Jersey) Law 1969	L.18/1969	1 January 1972
Nursing and Residential Homes (Jersey) Law 1994	L.12/1994	1 April 1995 (R&O.8811)
Transfer of Functions (Health and Social Services Committee) (Jersey) Act 1995	R&O.8859	10 October 1995
Adoption (Amendment No. 3) (Jersey) Law 1995	L.20/1995	1 January 1996 (R&O.8877)
Adoption (Amendment No. 4) (Jersey) Law 1999	L.25/1999	1 September 2001 (R&O.112/2001)	P.5/1999
Age of Majority (Jersey) Law 1999	L.26/1999	1 November 1999 (R&O.9445)	P.23/1999
Education (Jersey) Law 1999	L.27/1999	1 March 2000 (R&O.9484)	P.30/1999
Loi (2000) (Amendement No. 13) sur l’Etat Civil	L.8/2000	31 March 2000	P.136/1999
Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001	L.31/2001	1 May 2002 (R&O.13/2002)	P.89/2001
Adoption (Amendment No. 5) (Jersey) Law 2002	L.49/2002	1 August 2005 (R&O.75/2005)	P.201/2001
States of Jersey (Amendments and Construction Provisions No. 5) (Jersey) Regulations 2005	R&O.45/2005	9 December 2005	P.59/2005
Wills and Successions (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2010	L.22/2010	29 January 2011	P.7/2010
Civil Partnership (Jersey) Law 2012	L.4/2012	2 April 2012	P.85/2011
Adoption (Amendment No. 6) (Jersey) Law 2013	L.17/2013	22 November 2013	P.80/2013
Adoption (Amendment No. 7) (Jersey) Law 2015	L.13/2015	16 October 2015	P.53/2015
Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Jersey) Law 2016	L.1/2016	20 September 2016 (R&O.98/2016)	P.87/2015
Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Jersey) Regulations 2016	R&O.97/2016	20 September 2016	P.74/2016
Children and Adoption (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2016	L.25/2016	2 December 2016	P.76/2016
Mental Health and Capacity (Consequential Amendment and Transitional Provision) (Jersey) Regulations 2018	R&O.49/2018	1 October 2018 (R&O.51/2018)	P.48/2018
Regulation of Care (Regulated Activities) (Jersey) Regulations 2018	R&O.118/2018	1 January 2019	P.126/2018
States of Jersey (Transfer of Responsibilities and Functions) (Health and Social Services to Children and Housing) Order 2019	R&O.100/2019	9 October 2019
States of Jersey (Minister for Children and Education, Minister for Housing and Communities and Minister for External Relations and Financial Services) (Jersey) Order 2021	R&O.29/2021	2 March 2021
Legislation (Jersey) Law 2021	L.8/2021	28 September 2021 (R&O.112/2021)	P.26/2021
Regulation of Care (Regulated Activities) (Amendment of Law) (Jersey) Regulations 2022	R&O.55/2022	1 January 2022 (R&O.117/2022)	P.45/2022
Changes to Ministerial Offices (Jersey) Amendment Order 2024	R&O.10/2024	9.30 a.m. on 27 February 2024

◦Projets available at www.statesassembly.gov.je

Table of Renumbered Provisions

Original	Current
1	1
1A	2
1B	3
1C	4
1D	5
1E	6
1F	7
1G	8
1H	9
2	10
3	11
4	12
5	13
6	14
7	15
8	16
9	17
10	18
11	19
12	20
13	21
14	22
15	23
16	24
17	25
18	26
18A	27
19	28
20	29
20A	30
21	31
22	32
23	33
24	34
25	35
26	36
27	37
28	38
29	spent, omitted from this revised edition[119]
30	39
31	40
32	41
32A	42
33	43
34	spent, omitted from this revised edition
35	spent, omitted from this revised edition
Art. 1 of L.10/1965	44
Art. 2 of L.10/1965	45
Art. 3 of L.10/1965	46
36	47
First Schedule	Schedule 1
Second Schedule	spent, omitted from this revised edition
Third Schedule	Schedule 2

Table of Endnote References

The monetary value of levels on the standard scale of fines is set by the Criminal Justice (Standard Scale of Fines) (Jersey) Law 1993 chapter 08.360

[1] This revised edition incorporates also the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1965 (L.10/1965)

[2] This Law has been amended by the States of Jersey (Amendments and Construction Provisions No. 5) (Jersey) Regulations 2005. The amendments replace all references to a Committee of the States of Jersey with a reference to a Minister of the States of Jersey, and remove and add defined terms appropriately, consequentially upon the move from a committee system of government to a ministerial system of government

This Law has been amended by the Adoption (Amendment No. 7) (Jersey) Law 2015. The amendments replace all references to infant or infants with references to child or children

[3] Article 1(1) amended by L.12/1994, L.25/1999, L.26/1999, L.49/2002, L.4/2012, L.13/2015, editorial change in definition “approved adoption society”, “adoption service” deleted, “Adoption Service” inserted instead, amended by R&O.100/2019, R&O.29/2021, R&O.55/2022, R&O.10/2024

[4] Article 1(2) omitted by L.49/2002

[5] Article 1(3A) inserted by L.49/2002, amended by R&O.49/2018

[6] Article 1(3B) inserted by L.49/2002

[7] Article 1(3C) inserted by L.49/2002

[8] Article 1(5) amended by L.20/1995

[9] Article 2 inserted by L.20/1995

[10] Article 2(1) amended by L.49/2002

[11] Article 2(4) inserted by L.49/2002

[12] Article 3 substituted by L.13/2015

[13] Article 3A inserted by L.13/2015

[14]Article 4 inserted by L.20/1995

[15] Article 5 substituted by L.49/2002, heading amended by R&O.55/2022, amended by R&O.55/2022

[16] Article 6 inserted by L.20/1995

[17] Article 7 inserted by L.25/1999

[18] Article 8 inserted by L.25/1999

[19] Article 9 inserted by L.25/1999

[20] Article 10(1) substituted by L.49/2002, amended by L.4/2012, L.13/2015

[21] Article 10(1A) inserted by L.13/2015

[22] Article 10(1B) inserted by L.13/2015

[23] Article 10(2) substituted by L.49/2002

[24] Article 10(3) amended by L.4/2012

[25] Article 10(4) amended by L.49/2002

[26] Article 10(5) omitted by L.49/2002

[27] Article 10A inserted by L.13/2015

[28] Article 11(2) amended by L.4/2012

[29] Article 11(3) repealed by L.17/2013

[30] Article 11A inserted by L.49/2002

[31] Article 11A(3) amended by L.1/2016

[32] Article 11B inserted by L.49/2002

[33] Article 11C inserted by L.49/2002

[34] Article 12 substituted by L.20/1995

[35] Article 12(5) substituted by L.49/2002

[36] Article 12(7) substituted by L.25/2016

[37] Article 12(8) added by L.49/2002

[38] Article 12A inserted by L.49/2002

[39] Article 12B inserted by L.49/2002

[40] Article 12B(3) amended by L.25/2016

[41]Article 13 substituted by L.20/1995

[42] Article 13(1) substituted by L.49/2002

[43] Article 13(2) amended by L.49/2002

[44] Article 13(3) amended by L.49/2002

[45] Article 13(6) added by L.49/2002

[46] Article 15 heading amended by L.49/2002

[47] Article 15(1) substituted by L.49/2002, amended by L.4/2012

[48] Article 15(2) amended by L.49/2002

[49] Article 15(3) amended by L.49/2002

[50] Article 15(4) added by L.49/2002

[51] Article 16(1) amended by L.49/2002

[52] Article 17(1) amended by L.49/2002

[53] Article 17(4) amended by L.49/2002

[54] Article 18(4) deleted by L.8/2021

[55] Article 18(7) added by L.49/2002

[56] Article 19 repealed by L.49/2002

[57] Article 20 heading amended by L.49/2002

[58] Article 20(1) substituted by L.49/2002, amended by L.4/2012

[59] Article 20(1A) inserted by L.49/2002

[60] Article 20(1B) inserted by L.49/2002

[61] Article 20(2) substituted by L.49/2002

[62] Article 20(4) amended by L.4/2012

[63] Article 20(5) added by L.49/2002

[64] Article 20(6) added by L.49/2002

[65] Article 21(3) added by L.49/2002

[66] Article 23 substituted by L.13/1963

[67] Article 23(1) amended by L.22/2010

[68] Article 23(2) amended by L.22/2010

[69] Article 23(3) amended by L.22/2010

[70] Article 23(6) amended by L.4/2012, editorial change, circumflex added to “acquêts”

[71] Article 23(9) this paragraph was originally enacted as Article 2 of L.13/1963 and has been reworded accordingly; the date “24th November 1963” was inserted for the commencement date of L.13/1963

[72] Article 23(10) added by L.49/2002

[73] Article 24(1) amended by L.49/2002

[74] Article 24(3) amended by L.31/2001

[75] Article 25(7) added by L.49/2002

[76] Article 26(4) added byL.49/2002

[77] Article 27 inserted by L.20/1995

[78] Article 27(1) amended by L.4/2012

[79] Article 27(4) amended by L.49/2002

[80] Article 27(6) amended by L.49/2002

[81] Article 30 inserted by L.20/1995

[82] Article 30(1) amended by L.49/2002, L.13/2015

[83] Article 30(2) amended by L.31/2001, L.49/2002, L.4/2012

[84] Article 30(3) substituted by L.13/2015

[85] Article 30(4) substituted by L.13/2015

[86] Article 30(5) inserted by L.13/2015

[87] Article 31(3) paragraph was originally enacted as Article 1(1) of L.5/1966; for “the coming into force of that Law”, the actual date “16th July 1963” was inserted

[88] Article 31(4) paragraph was originally enacted as Article 1(2) of L.5/1966

[89] Article 32 amended by L.8/2000, L. 31/2001

[90] Part 4A inserted by L.13/2015

[91] Article 32A(10) amended by R&O.97/2016

[92] Article 33(1) amended by L.49/2002

[93] Article 33(2) substituted by L.49/2002, amended by R&O.49/2018, R&O.118/2018, R&O.55/2022

[94] Article 33(3) substituted by L.49/2002, amended by R&O.49/2018, R&O.118/2018

[95] Article 33(4) substituted by L.49/2002, amended by L.4/2012

[96] Article 36(1) amended by L.49/2002

[97] Article 36(2) amended by L.49/2002

[98] Article 36(3) amended by L.49/2002

[99] Article 37 repealed by L.49/2002

[100] Article 38(1) amended by L.49/2002

[101] Article 38(2) amended by L.20/1995, L.1/2016

[102] Article 39(1) amended by L.49/2002

[103] Article 39(2) amended by L.20/1995, L.49/2002, L.1/2016

[104] Article 39(4) inserted by L.25/1999

[105] Article 39A inserted by L.49/2002

[106] Article 39A(3) amended by L.1/2016

[107] Article 39B inserted by L.49/2002

[108] Article 39C inserted by L.49/2002

[109] Article 40(1) amended by L.20/1995, L.49/2002, L.1/2016

[110] Article 41(1) amended by L.49/2002

[111] Article 42 inserted by L.25/1999

[112] Article 42(1A) inserted by L.49/2002

[113] Article 42(2) amended by L.13/2015

[114] Article 42(3) deleted by L.8/2021

[115] Article 44 originally enacted as Article 1 of L.10/1965, the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1965. For “the commencement of this Law” the actual date “25th June 1965” has been substituted, and minor consequential changes have been made for this revised edition

[116] Article 45 originally enacted as Article 2 of L.10/1965, the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1965

[117] Article 46 originally enacted as Article 3 of L.10/1965, the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1965

[118] Article 46(4) amended by L.8/2000, L.31/2001

[119] the original Article 29 has, in this revised edition, been treated as spent. The Article is –

“ARTICLE 29

PROVISIONS AS TO EXISTING DE FACTO ADOPTIONS

Where, on the first day of January, 1948, any infant was in the custody of, and being brought up, maintained and educated by any person or two spouses jointly as his, her or their own child under any de facto adoption, and had for a period of not less than two years before that date been in such custody, and been so brought up, maintained and educated, the Court may, upon the application of such person or spouses, and notwithstanding that the applicant is a male and the infant a female, make an adoption order authorizing him, her or them to adopt the infant without requiring the consent of any parent or guardian of the infant to be obtained, upon being satisfied that in all the circumstances of the case it is just and equitable and for the welfare of the infant that no such consent should be required and that an adoption order should be made.”.

Page Last Updated: 13 Sep 2024

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Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961