The Impact of Step Parent Adoption

On the adopted child

A number of outcomes from step parent adoption include:

The relationship between the child and the step parent will be recognised in law
The step parent will acquire parental responsibility on the same footing as the birth parent
The child may acquire a new surname or family name

Consequences of adoption

There are a number of wider reaching consequences to consider as the child would no longer have any legal ties to the other birth parent and a large section of that parent’s family.

Although good relations may be maintained, it does mean that in law the adopted child will:

Lose any automatic rights to contact with that parent or that parent’s family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc)
Lose any rights to maintenance payments from the other birth parent
Lose any rights to inheritance from the other birth parent or that parent’s family unless special provision is made in their wills

On birth parents

If a couple in a new relationaship or second marriage separate or divorce, both partners will have equal rights to the child whilst the child’s birth parent from the first marriage will have none. This may complicate arrangements for care.

An ex-partner may wish to develop a role in the future of their child. In such circumstances, they may apply for a contact order.

If a parental responsibility order is in place, it is unlikely that the Court will support an adoption order which would sever all legal ties to the other parent.

On records

The making of an adoption order will be recorded in the Adopted Children Register (the Adopted Children Register is not open to public inspection or search)
An adoption certificate will be issued to adoptive parents
The child’s entry in the register of live-births will also be annotated that adoption has occurred. At 18 an adopted person can apply for a certificate of their original birth registration