Adoption

Adoption is a legal procedure which involves an application to Court. An Adoption Order transfers all parental responsibility for the child to the adopters and once it has been made it cannot be reversed, except in extremely rare circumstances.

The adopted child has a new family and loses all legal ties with their birth parents. The child would usually take the adopting family’s name.

Step-parent adoption law

As a step-parent you can look to adopt your step-child, but there are also other options to give you legal rights and responsibilities without ending the child’s legal relationship with their natural parent. For example, you can apply for a Special Guardianship Order or a Residence Order. By talking through your particular situation with you, we can help you work out what’s best for you and the child.

Adoption following social services involvement

Our team of Family lawyers have extensive experience of Public Law Proceedings. We have represented many parents and children in proceedings where a Local Authority has applied for a Care Order and is going on to ask the Court to make a Placement Order (authority to place a child for adoption). 

These types of cases are not straightforward and free legal aid is generally available to help parents receive advice and specialist legal representation. We have solicitors who are Members of the Law Society Children Panel, and who are experts in representing families in adoption law situations like these. 

Adoption Law support for adoptive parents

Adoption UK was founded by adoptive parents to offer adoption law support information, advice and encouragement to prospective and established adopters. When a decision is made for a child to be adopted parents often feel alone and isolated and therefore, we can also give specialist advice about obtaining appropriate support.

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Explore our Family Law services

Adoption

Adoption

Adoption is a legal procedure which involves an application to Court.

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Child care proceedings advice

Child care proceedings advice

On occasions it becomes unclear whether a child or children are being afforded the care and nurturing they deserve by their immediate and extended family.

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Civil Partnership Rights

Civil Partnership Rights

A civil partnership is a special ceremony that lets same-sex couples formalise their relationship and gain marriage-like rights.

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Cohabitation Rights

Cohabitation Rights

Many call long-term live-in partners 'common law' husband or wife, but no such legal status exists, it's simply cohabitation.

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Divorce & Matrimonial Law

Divorce & Matrimonial Law

Divorce is a difficult time, often bringing unwanted life changes – our solicitors understand.

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Domestic Abuse

Domestic Abuse

If you or your children face domestic abuse or harassment from a partner or family member, seek urgent advice from our family team—we can advise on Family Law Orders and…

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Financial Relief in Divorce

Financial Relief in Divorce

After marriage breakdown, sorting finances is critical—known as financial remedy (FR) proceedings.

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Grandparents

Grandparents

After a relationship breakdown, grandparents often struggle to see their grandchildren.

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Issues involving children

Issues involving children

Our children solicitors know children are the most valued assets in family breakdowns, which is why many advisors sit on the Solicitors Children Panel.

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Parental Responsibility

Parental Responsibility

During relationship breakdowns, the most emotive issue is often who cares for the child daily and how often the other parent sees them.

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Pre-Nuptial Agreements

Pre-Nuptial Agreements

As divorce becomes a matter-of-fact element of 21st century society, many men and women are marrying and divorcing more than once.

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Family Law News

Empowering Families Through Partnership: BHP Law, Parent and Child Together North East, and Point North Unite for Impact
Family Law
Empowering Families Through Partnership: BHP Law, Parent and Child Together North East, and Point North Unite for Impact
Parent and Child Together North East (PACTNE) has received vital funding from the BHP Law Community Fund, distributed by Point North, to support its mission of providing intensive, wraparound support for vulnerable families across Darlington, the Tees Valley, and the North of England. This grant has enabled PACTNE to recruit a part-time Family Support Worker, […]
To Change or Not to Change: Navigating Name Decisions After Divorce
Family Law
To Change or Not to Change: Navigating Name Decisions After Divorce
Ending a marriage can be tough, and changing your name after a divorce is a significant step many consider. This deeply personal decision can be overwhelming, but BHP Law is here to help. Whether you’re changing your surname or seeking advice, we’ll guide you through the legal steps, making the process as smooth as possible. […]
Who has parental responsibility for my child?
Family Law
Who has parental responsibility for my child?
Section 3(1) of the Children Act 1989 defines parental responsibility, often abbreviated to ‘PR’, as all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities, and authority which a parent has in relation to the child by law. It is very important to note that this confers not only rights over the child but also responsibilities. Parental responsibility continues until the […]
Domestic abuse victims advised to turn off phones for UK emergency alert test
Family Law
Domestic abuse victims advised to turn off phones for UK emergency alert test
The government is set to test its UK emergency alert system on Sunday 23rd April 2023. The emergency alerts will appear on mobile phones UK-wide and will be accompanied by a loud siren-like sound, and vibration for up to 10 seconds. The idea behind this new system is to ensure that the public are informed of […]
Minimum marriage age raised from 16 to 18 in England and Wales
Family Law
Minimum marriage age raised from 16 to 18 in England and Wales
The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 has come into force today, (27th February 2023). Effectively from today, 16 and 17 year-olds can no longer enter a marriage or civil partnership, regardless of parental consent.   This amendment to the previous legislation means that it will now be a criminal offence to cause a […]
Transparency Pilot within the Family Court – are Journalists now able to report on family cases?
Family Law
Transparency Pilot within the Family Court – are Journalists now able to report on family cases?
We have seen a major change this week in the way in which information is shared with the public in relation to family cases. Mrs Justice Lieven, a Judge within the Midlands Circuit took time to explain the pilot that will allow journalists to report on Family Court proceedings. The Transparency Reporting Pilot is a […]
Applying for divorce online, do you still need a lawyer?
Family Law
Applying for divorce online, do you still need a lawyer?
On 5th September 2022, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) released a fact sheet detailing the position since the changes in divorce law came into effect on 6th April 2022. The statistics published are as follows: In its first month, the online divorce service received 13,000 applications from couples who applied to end their marriage. 2,771 were […]
Resolving your family disputes: Court proceedings should always be the last option!
Family Law
Resolving your family disputes: Court proceedings should always be the last option!
I could not agree more with Sir Andrew MacFarlane, the President of the Family Division, when he said that the Family Court is “fully stretched”. With proceedings in the Family Court taking anywhere between 16 weeks to 18 months in my experience, the system is indeed struggling. In an interview with BBC Radio 4 on Sunday […]
What does a victim of domestic abuse look like?
Family Law
What does a victim of domestic abuse look like?
At the moment it is difficult to avoid news updates on the Depp v Heard case ongoing in the USA. Both parties are making shocking allegations of domestic abuse against one another, and a lot is at stake for all involved. Johnny Depp’s lawyers played a recording in Court of Amber Heard saying “Men can’t […]
Divorcing without blame: What new legislation means for divorcing couples
Family Law
Divorcing without blame: What new legislation means for divorcing couples
The long-awaited no-fault divorce legislation finally comes into force on 6th April 2022, changing the outdated approach to separation. The changes remove fault and blame from the divorce process, making it easier for separating couples to end marriages. The current law is almost half a century old, meaning it has no relevance to today’s societal […]
Peace and goodwill at Christmas – advice for parents who are separated
Family Law
Peace and goodwill at Christmas – advice for parents who are separated
There’s great emphasis on Christmas being ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, a time when families come together to celebrate the festivities. Having said that, for some, Christmas can sometimes be a far cry from the idyllic vision we all have. December is often very busy with activities such as school productions, family gatherings […]
Family Care – Calculating Payments
Family Law
Family Care – Calculating Payments
It is very common for deputyship clients to have family members provide care. This could be as simple as cooking meals and assisting with personal care and hygiene, or this could be full time regular care involving nursing and physiotherapy skills. For many clients, having a family member do the caring is preferable, especially in […]

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