Adoption is a way of providing a new family for children who cannot be brought up by their own biological parents.
It is a legal procedure and process through which a child legally becomes a member of a new family and so acquires one or two new parents who have then parental responsibility transferred to them. Once an adoption order has been made it cannot be reversed except in extremely rare circumstances.
Legal Aid Eligibility
If you’re involved in adoption proceedings, either as a prospective adopter or a parent contesting an adoption, legal aid may be available depending on the type of case.
Legal aid is often granted in contested adoptions, particularly where the local authority is involved. In private adoption matters, eligibility depends on financial and legal circumstances.
You can find more guidance on adoption-related legal aid on our Legal Aid page.
- Legal aid is usually available for contested or local authority adoptions.
- Private adoptions require eligibility assessment.
- Financial and case-based criteria apply.
You can find more details about the criteria for legal aid in family law and what’s needed on our Legal Aid page.