Adoption has a number of important legal implications, and any party to adoption
proceedings should take legal advice as early as possible. These are court
proceedings, and the confidential nature of adoption procedure makes it all the
more important to get legal representation simply to find out what is actually
going on.
Where the parents have clearly indicated consent to adoption, legal
representation may not strictly be necessary, and sometimes the Adoption Agency
provides all the help that is needed to explain and help with the court
procedure. However, legal advice may in fact be most helpful, even if it only
concerns making a Will!
In contested proceedings legal representation is essential. Either party may
qualify for Legal Aid. Some Local Authorities will meet the cost of representing
the adopters if they do not qualify for Legal Aid.
In either case, make sure the solicitor is a member of the Children Panel
details of which are in the Law Society Directory, who have been accredited to
represent children and others in care/adoption cases.