In a helpful contribution to the discourse on adoption law, Daniel Taylor, assisted by Alex Laing, from Coram Chambers, has written an article in the family law journal entitled: Public Law Working Group Adoption Report: A Call for Reform.
Their piece centres on the recent findings from the report of the adoption sub-group of the Public Law Working Group entitled ‘Recommendations for best practice in respect of adoption’.
Daniel Taylor brings his experience in care proceedings to his consideration of this important issue.
Assisting him, Alex Laing, previously secretary to the Public Law Working Group, lends invaluable insights on the complexities surrounding adoption matters.
Daniel and Alex’s article looks at the social, legal and normative background to the establishment of the adoption sub-group: considering “why” the report has been commissioned, and in doing so, traces the societal changes that have altered what adoption looks like.
Daniel and Alex then consider each of the five chapters and respective ‘targets’ of the report: contact arrangements, access to adoption records, court procedures (including parental rights to challenge adoption applications post-placement order), international adoption, and adoption by consent. They look in particular at the report’s recommendations on post-adoption contact, which suggest a fundamental shift towards facilitating greater, and where appropriate, direct and regular, contact between adopted children and their birth families. In respect of each chapter and ‘target’ of the report, the article surveys the background to the issues addressed before proceeding to consider the findings themselves.
For more insight into this evolving area of law and consideration of the working group’s report, read the full article in The Family Law Journal.
