The Adoption and Children Act 2002 is designed to promote the wider use of adoption, to improve performance of the adoption services and to place the needs of children at the centre of the adoption process. The Act reforms the need for parental consent to adoption.

Adoption: The Modern Law explains in detail the legislation and sets it in the context of adoption law more generally. The book also provides a comprehensive analysis of the law in respect of inter-country adoptions. Written by two of the foremost experts on the subject, it covers all the key issues raised by the law, answering questions such as:

• how will the principle that the welfare of the child is paramount affect adoption decision making?
• what new duties will local authorities have with regard to adoption?
• what are the new measures for placement for adoption and consent and placement orders?
• what is a special guardianship order?

Adoption: The Modern Law will be indispensable for all involved in adoption work - family lawyers, adoption and fostering agencies and social services personnel.

INCLUDES THE FULL TEXT OF THE ADOPTION AND CHILDREN ACT 2002.

Caroline Bridge, Barrister, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Manchester
Heather Swindells QC

• Adoption - the Historical Perspective
• The process of reform
• The need for reform - the background issues
• The need for reform - issues of child welfare
• The need for reform - issues of contact and information
• The new law - an overview
• Welfare
• Parental consent
• Placement for adoption
• The making of adoption orders
• Contact
• Access to information and confidentiality
• The adoption service
• International regulation of intercountry adoption
• Recognition of international adoptions
• Illegal transfers, placements and transactions 

Appendix

• Adoption and Children Act 2002

"a thorough, thoughtful and thought-provoking book which performs some very valuable functions"
New Law Journal