Tom Wilson acted for the prospective adopters in these proceedings concerning an adoption application in relation to one child and an application to revoke a placement order in relation to the other. Tom was instructed by Goodman Ray solicitors.

The court considered the application of section 35 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and the consequences for adoption proceedings when the local authority serves notice on the child’s adoptive placement. The court further considered whether the child had “had her home with” the applicants for the 10 weeks preceding the adoption application, pursuant to section 42(2) ACA 2002, in circumstances where the child had been accommodated by the local authority throughout that period.

The court determined that the statutory requirements for the making of an adoption order were met and that the granting of an adoption order in respect of one child, and the revocation of the placement order in respect of the other, would meet each of their lifelong welfare needs.