Who Can Adopt?
There are considerable restrictions. To be able to adopt a child in the UK you must be :
- Over the age of 21
- Living in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
- A single person or a married couple
So it is clear that an unmarried couple (even where one of the applicants is the natural parent of the child) cannot adopt. Nor can a same-sex couple adopt a child together. However a Court may approve an arrangement whereby one member of a couple can adopt a child as a single applicant and the other have a joint residence order.