Rachel Langdale, James Weston - Guidance on the Adoption and Children Act 2002: Re P

Rachel Langdale and James Weston, Barristers, 7 Bedford Row.

In SB v A County Council; Re P [2008] EWCA Civ 535, [2008] FLR (forthcoming) the Court of Appeal delivered an important judgment in which guidance was provided upon aspects of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (ACA 2002). Significantly, the test for dispensing with parental consent to adoption and placement orders was clarified and, to the relief of local authorities nationwide, the adoption agency practice of dual-track planning was approved. Furthermore, the court's decision (perhaps prompted, in part, by the unfortunate history of contact in the instant case) has arguably opened the door to a more interventionist judicial approach to post-adoption contact.

For the full article, see August [2008] Family Law journal.

Read the full article here.