Changes to Care and Adoption Proceedings

From 1 October 2007 information relating to care and adoption proceedings can be disclosed to adoption panels without the leave of the court. This applies to proceedings in all tiers of family court. Rule 10.20A of the Family Proceedings Rules 1991, the Practice Direction supplementing Rule 78 of the Family Procedure (Adoption) Rules 2005, and Rule 23A(c) of the Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) Rules 1991 sets out who can receive information relating to proceedings held in private without leave of the court. The Family Proceedings (Amendment) (No 2) Rules 2007 (SI 2007/2187) and the Family Proceedings Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2007 (SI 2007/2188), see Legislation below) make the necessary amendments. From 1 October 2007 the form A50 'Application for a Placement Order' will contain an amendment to remind applicants that they should not include information about an adoption order for an adopted brother or sister and not to attach copies of adoption orders to the application for any adopted brother or sister. The revised form A50 will be available on the HMCS website from 1 October 2007.