Applying for an adoption order
An adoption order transfers parental rights and responsibilities for a child to their adoptive parents. You'll need it to complete the adoption.
To get an adoption order, you need to lodge an adoption order application with the ACT Supreme Court and attend Court.
Help to apply for an adoption order
You'll get help from Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) when you adopt:
- a foster child
- a child from overseas
- a child from the ACT.
If you adopted from overseas and did not complete the adoption in the child's birth country, you must lodge an adoption order within 12 months after the child arrives in Australia.
If you're adopting a stepchild
You'll need to apply for an adoption order with either the:
You can get a solicitor or lawyer to do it or do it yourself with help from the ACT Supreme Court’s Registrar.
After you apply
The ACT Supreme Court will give you a hearing date for you to attend court.
If you're getting help from CYPS, we will send our adoption report to the ACT Supreme Court.
The report will:
- describe the child’s circumstances
- describe your circumstances (as the adoptive parents)
- describe why adoption is in the child’s best interest
- include any issues or agreements between you and the other people involved
- recommend granting the adoption or not (based on our assessment).
Attending court
You, your partner, the child you’re adopting, your legal representative (if used) and Child and Youth Protection Services will appear before a judge.
A judge will:
- consider your adoption order application
- decide to either grant or refuse the order.
Getting the adoption order
If the judge grants the adoption, you'll have permanent parental responsibility for your child.
You'll get:
- a copy of the adoption order at the hearing
- updated legal records in the following weeks.
Apply for a birth certificate
You can register the adoption or apply for a new birth certificate from Access Canberra.