Post-adoption photographs: welfare, rights and judicial reasoning [2011] CFLQ 393

In Re J (A Child) (Adopted Child: Contact), the Court of Appeal minimised the effect of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 on post-adoption contact, continuing the restrictive approach taken to such contact before the Act commenced. The court refused to order that the natural parents should receive and retain an annual photograph of their former child. This commentary argues that the court was probably right to refuse that order, but that it is nevertheless troubling that the court did not give adequate consideration to the various rights and interests of the parties.