Adoption Law in Northern Ireland

This title offers students and practitioners in the fields of law, health and social work a comprehensive guide to current adoption law and practice, particularly as regards requirements of the Adoption (NI) Order 1987 and the accompanying court rules and adoption regulations.;The book traces the different stages of the adoption process from the point at which a child becomes available to the point where that child may acquire information about his or her family of origin. This is accompanied by a user-friendly guide to the procedures involved in that process - such as making an application, obtaining a freeing order, adopting a foreign child and disclosure of confidential information. The practical nature of the book is further demonstrated by the inclusion in appendices of notes for guidance and lists of useful addresses.;For those looking for a more reflective assessment of the changing nature of adoption, this book has something to offer. Beginning with a challenging interpretation of the historical role of adoption in society, it then gathers together evidence which demonstrates the dramatic change which has occurred to that role in recent years.;By drawing from the unreported judgments of the High Court, the book provides a useful insight to evolving judicial policy in Northern Ireland. Statistical and case-law material is used to set these changes into the context of modern developments in child care in particular and the framework of family law in general. By concluding with a commentary on the recent white paper, "Adoption: The Future" (Cmnd 2288), this book ensures that the reader is up to date with the very latest developments in adoption law.