The Family Procedure (Adoption) Rules 2005

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Application by the court of the overriding objective
     2. The court must seek to give effect to the overriding objective when it—

(a) exercises any power given to it by these Rules; or

(b) interprets any rule.

Duty of the parties
     3. The parties are required to help the court to further the overriding objective.

Court's duty to manage cases
     4. —(1) The court must further the overriding objective by actively managing cases.

    (2) Active case management includes—

(a) encouraging the parties to co-operate with each other in the conduct of the proceedings;

(b) identifying at an early stage—


(i) the issues; and

(ii) who should be a party to the proceedings;



(c) deciding promptly—



(i) which issues need full investigation and hearing and which do not; and

(ii) the procedure to be followed in the case;



(d) deciding the order in which issues are to be resolved;

(e) encouraging the parties to use an alternative dispute resolution procedure if the court considers that appropriate and facilitating the use of such procedure;

(f) helping the parties to settle the whole or part of the case;

(g) fixing timetables or otherwise controlling the progress of the case;

(h) considering whether the likely benefits of taking a particular step justify the cost of taking it;

(i) dealing with as many aspects of the case as it can on the same occasion;

(j) dealing with the case without the parties needing to attend at court;

(k) making use of technology; and

(l) giving directions to ensure that the case proceeds quickly and efficiently.

(a) in rule 43.2(1)(c)(ii), "district judge" includes a district judge of the principal registry of the Family Division;

(b) after rule 43.2(1)(d)(iv), insert—


     " or

(v) a magistrates' court."; and



(c) in rule 48.7(1) after "section 51(6) of the Supreme Court Act 1981" insert "or section 145A of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980[4]".

    (4) Part 47 of the CPR does not apply to proceedings in a magistrates' court.

    (5) Parts 50 and 70 to 74 of, and Schedules 1 and 2 to, the CPR apply, as far as they are relevant, to the enforcement of orders made in proceedings in the High Court and county courts with necessary modifications.

Interpretation
     6. —(1) In these Rules—

"the Act" means Part 1 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002;

"the 1989 Act" means the Children Act 1989[5];

"adoption proceedings" means proceedings for the making of an adoption order under the Act;

"application notice" means a document in which the applicant states his intention to seek a court order in accordance with the procedure in Part 9;

"business day" means any day other than—

(a) a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Day or Good Friday; or

(b) a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971[6], in England and Wales;

"Central Authority" means, in relation to England, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, and in relation to Wales, the National Assembly for Wales;

"child"—

(a) means, subject to paragraph (b), a person under the age of 18 years who is the subject of the proceedings; and

(b) in adoption proceedings, also includes a person who has attained the age of 18 years before the proceedings are concluded;

"children and family reporter" means an officer of the Service or a Welsh family proceedings officer who prepares a report on matters relating to the welfare of the child;

"children's guardian" means an officer of the Service or a Welsh family proceedings officer appointed to act on behalf of a child who is a party to the proceedings with the duty of safeguarding the interests of the child;

"civil restraint order" means an order restraining a party—

(a) from making any further applications in current proceedings (a limited civil restraint order);

(b) from making certain applications in specified courts (an extended civil restraint order); or

(c) from making any application in specified courts (a general civil restraint order);

"court officer" means, in the High Court and a county court, a member of court staff, and in a magistrates' court, the designated officer;

"CPR" means the Civil Procedure Rules 1998[7];

"detailed assessment proceedings" means the procedure by which the amount of costs is decided in accordance with Part 47 of the CPR;

"filing", in relation to a document, means delivering it, by post or otherwise, to the court office;

"jurisdiction" means, unless the context requires otherwise, England and Wales and any part of the territorial waters of the United Kingdom adjoining England and Wales;

"legal representative" means a barrister or a solicitor, solicitor's employee or other authorised litigator (as defined in section 119 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990[8]) who has been instructed to act for a party in relation to an application;

"litigation friend" has the meaning given by section 1 of Part 7;

"non-subject child" means a person under the age of 18 years who is a party to the proceedings but is not the subject of the proceedings;

"officer of the Service" has the meaning given by section 11(3) of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000[9];

"patient" means a party to proceedings who, by reason of mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983[10], is incapable of managing and administering his property and affairs;

"placement proceedings" means proceedings for the making, varying or revoking of a placement order under the Act;

"proceedings" means, unless the context otherwise requires, proceedings brought under the Act (whether at first instance or appeal) or proceedings for the purpose of enforcing an order made in any proceedings under that Act, as the case may be;

"provision for contact" means a contact order under section 8 or 34 of the 1989 Act or a contact order under section 26;

"reporting officer" means an officer of the Service or a Welsh family proceedings officer appointed to witness the documents which signify a parent or guardian's consent to the placing of the child for adoption or to the making of an adoption order or a section 84 order;

"section 84 order" means an order made by the High Court under section 84 giving parental responsibility prior to adoption abroad;

"section 88 direction" means a direction given by the High Court under section 88 that section 67(3) (status conferred by adoption) does not apply or does not apply to any extent specified in the direction;

"section 89 order" means an order made by the High Court under section 89—

(a) annulling a Convention adoption or Convention adoption order;

(b) providing for an overseas adoption or determination under section 91 to cease to be valid; or

(c) deciding the extent, if any, to which a determination under section 91 has been affected by a subsequent determination under that section;

"the Service Regulation" means Council Regulation (EC) No 1348/2000 of 29 May 2000 on the service in the Member States of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters;

"Welsh family proceedings officer" has the meaning given by section 35(4) of the Children Act 2004[11].

    (2) A section or Schedule referred to by number alone means the section or Schedule so numbered in the Adoption and Children Act 2002.

    (3) Any provision in these Rules—

(a) requiring or permitting directions to be given by the court is to be taken as including provision for such directions to be varied or revoked; and

(b) requiring or permitting a date to be set is to be taken as including provision for that date to be set aside.

Power to perform functions of the court
     7. —(1) Where these Rules or a practice direction provide for the court to perform any act then, except where any rule or practice direction, any other enactment, or the Family Proceedings (Allocation to Judiciary) Directions[12], provides otherwise, that act may be performed—

(a) in relation to proceedings in the High Court or in a district registry, by any judge or district judge of that Court including a district judge of the principal registry of the Family Division;

(b) in relation to proceedings in a county court, by any judge or district judge including a district judge of the principal registry of the Family Division when the principal registry of the Family Division is treated as if it were a county court[13]; and

(c) in relation to proceedings in a magistrates' court—


(i) by any family proceedings court constituted in accordance with sections 66 and 67 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980[14]; or

(ii) by a single justice of the peace who is a member of the family panel—


(aa) where an application without notice is made under section 41(2) (recovery orders); and

(bb) in accordance with the relevant practice direction.

(The Justices' Clerks Rules 2005[15] make provision for a justices' clerk or assistant clerk to carry out certain functions of a single justice of the peace.)

    (2) A deputy High Court judge and a district judge, including a district judge of the principal registry of the Family Division, may not try a claim for a declaration of incompatibility in accordance with section 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998[16].

Court's discretion as to where it deals with cases
     8. The court may deal with a case at any place that it considers appropriate.

Court documents
     9. —(1) A court officer must seal[17], or otherwise authenticate with the stamp of the court, the following documents on issue—

(a) the application form;

(b) the order; and

(c) any other document which a rule or practice direction requires it to seal or stamp.

    (2) The court officer may place the seal or the stamp on the document—

(a) by hand; or

(b) by printing a facsimile of the seal on the document whether electronically or otherwise.

    (3) A document purporting to bear the court's seal or stamp will be admissible in evidence without further proof.

    (4) The relevant practice direction contains provisions about court documents.

Computation of time
     10. —(1) This rule shows how to calculate any period of time for doing any act which is specified—

(a) by these Rules;

(b) by a practice direction; or

(c) by a direction or order of the court.

    (2) A period of time expressed as a number of days must be computed as clear days.

    (3) In this rule "clear days" means that in computing the numbers of days—

(a) the day on which the period begins; and

(b) if the end of the period is defined by reference to an event, the day on which that event occurs

are not included.

    (4) Where the specified period is 7 days or less and would include a day which is not a business day, that day does not count.

    (5) When the period specified—

(a) by these Rules or a practice direction; or

(b) by any direction or order of the court,

for doing any act at the court office ends on a day on which the office is closed, that act will be in time if done on the next day on which the court office is open.

Dates for compliance to be calendar dates and to include time of day
     11. —(1) Where the court makes an order or gives a direction which imposes a time limit for doing any act, the last date for compliance must, wherever practicable—

(a) be expressed as a calendar date; and

(b) include the time of day by which the act must be done.

    (2) Where the date by which an act must be done is inserted in any document, the date must, wherever practicable, be expressed as a calendar date.

    (3) Where "month" occurs in any order, direction or other document, it means a calendar month.

    (3) The court may not extend the period within which a section 89 order must be made.

    (4) Paragraph (2)(f) does not apply to proceedings in a magistrates' court.

Exercise of powers of court's own initiative
     13. —(1) Except where an enactment provides otherwise, the court may exercise the powers in rule 12 on an application or of its own initiative.

(Part 9 sets out the procedure for making an application.)

    (2) Where the court proposes to exercise its powers of its own initiative—

(a) it may give any person likely to be affected an opportunity to make representations; and

(b) where it does so it must specify the time by and the manner in which the representations must be made.

    (3) Where the court proposes to hold a hearing to decide whether to exercise its powers of its own initiative it must give each party likely to be affected at least 3 days' notice of the hearing.

    (4) The court may exercise its powers of its own initiative, without hearing the parties or giving them an opportunity to make representations.

    (5) Where the court has exercised its powers under paragraph (4)—

(a) a party affected by the direction may apply to have it set aside or varied; and

(b) the direction must contain a statement of the right to make such an application.

    (6) An application under paragraph (5)(a) must be made—

(a) within such period as may be specified by the court; or

(b) if the court does not specify a period, within 7 days beginning with the date on which the order was served on the party making the application.

    (7) If the High Court or a county court of its own initiative dismisses an application (including an application for permission to appeal) and it considers that the application is totally without merit—

(a) the court's order must record that fact; and

(b) the court must at the same time consider whether it is appropriate to make a civil restraint order.

Court officer's power to refer to the court
     14. Where these Rules require a step to be taken by a court officer—

(a) the court officer may consult the court before taking that step;

(b) the step may be taken by the court instead of the court officer.

General power of the court to rectify matters where there has been an error of procedure
     15. Where there has been an error of procedure such as a failure to comply with a rule or practice direction—

(a) the error does not invalidate any step taken in the proceedings unless the court so orders; and

(b) the court may make an order to remedy the error.

Power of the court to make civil restraint orders
     16. The relevant practice direction sets out—

(a) the circumstances in which the High Court or a county court has the power to make a civil restraint order against a party to proceedings;

(b) the procedure where a party applies for a civil restraint order against another party; and

(c) the consequences of the court making a civil restraint order.

(Restrictions on where proceedings may be started are set out in the Children (Allocation of Proceedings) Order 1991[18].)

Application for a serial number
     20. —(1) This rule applies to any application in proceedings by a person who intends to adopt the child.

    (2) If the applicant wishes his identity to be kept confidential in the proceedings, he may, before those proceedings have started, request a court officer to assign a serial number to him to identify him in connection with the proceedings, and a number will be assigned to him.

    (3) The court may at any time direct that a serial number identifying the applicant in the proceedings referred to in paragraph (2) must be removed.

    (4) If a serial number has been assigned to a person under paragraph (2)—

(a) the court officer will ensure that any application form or application notice sent in accordance with these Rules does not contain information which discloses, or is likely to disclose, the identity of that person to any other party to that application who is not already aware of that person's identity; and

(b) the proceedings on the application will be conducted with a view to securing that the applicant is not seen by or made known to any party who is not already aware of his identity except with his consent.

Personal details
     21. —(1) Unless the court directs otherwise, a party is not required to reveal—

(a) the address or telephone number of their private residence;

(b) the address of the child;

(c) the name of a person with whom the child is living, if that person is not the applicant; or

(d) in relation to an application under section 28(2) (application for permission to change the child's surname), the proposed new surname of the child.

    (2) Where a party does not wish to reveal any of the particulars in paragraph (1), he must give notice of those particulars to the court and the particulars will not be revealed to any person unless the court directs otherwise.

    (3) Where a party changes his home address during the course of proceedings, he must give notice of the change to the court.

(Parts 9 and 10 set out the procedure for making an application in proceedings not dealt with in this Part.)

Who the parties are
     23. —(1) In relation to the proceedings set out in column 1 of each of the following tables, column 2 of Table 1 sets out who the application may be made by and column 2 of Table 2 sets out who the respondents to those proceedings will be.


Table 1

Proceedings for	Applicants
An adoption order (section 46)	The prospective adopters (section 50 and 51).
A section 84 order	The prospective adopters asking for parental responsibility prior to adoption abroad.
A placement order (section 21)	A local authority (section 22).
An order varying a placement order (section 23)	The joint application of the local authority authorised by the placement order to place the child for adoption and the local authority which is to be substituted for that authority (section 23).
An order revoking a placement order (section 24)	The child; the local authority authorised to place the child for adoption; or where the child is not placed for adoption by the authority, any other person who has the permission of the court to apply (section 24).
A contact order (section 26)	The child; the adoption agency; any parent, guardian or relative; any person in whose favour there was provision for contact under the 1989 Act which ceased to have effect on an adoption agency being authorised to place a child for adoption, or placing a child for adoption who is less than six weeks old (section 26(1)); a person in whose favour there was a residence order in force immediately before the adoption agency was authorised to place the child for adoption or placed the child for adoption at a time when he was less than six weeks old; a person who by virtue of an order made in the exercise of the High Court's inherent jurisdiction with respect to children had care of the child immediately before that time; or any person who has the permission of the court to make the application (section 26).
An order varying or revoking a contact order (section 27)	The child; the adoption agency; or any person named in the contact order (section 27(1)).
An order permitting the child's name to be changed or the removal of the child from the United Kingdom (section 28(2) and (3))	Any person including the adoption agency or the local authority authorised to place, or which has placed, the child for adoption (section 28(2)).
A section 88 direction	The adopted child; the adopters; any parent; or any other person.
A section 89 order	The adopters; the adopted person; any parent; the relevant Central Authority; the adoption agency; the local authority to whom notice under section 44 (notice of intention to adopt or apply for a section 84 order) has been given; the Secretary of State for the Home Department; or any other person.

Table 2

Proceedings for	Respondents
An adoption order (section 46) or a section 84 order	Each parent who has parental responsibility for the child or guardian of the child unless he has given notice under section 20(4)(a) (statement of wish not to be informed of any application for an adoption order) which has effect; any person in whose favour there is provision for contact; any adoption agency having parental responsibility for the child under section 25; any adoption agency which has taken part at any stage in the arrangements for adoption of the child; any local authority to whom notice under section 44 (notice of intention to adopt or apply for a section 84 order) has been given; any local authority or voluntary organisation which has parental responsibility for, is looking after, or is caring for, the child; and the child where— permission has been granted to a parent or guardian to oppose the making of the adoption order (section 47(3) or 47(5)); he opposes the making of an adoption order; a children and family reporter recommends that it is in the best interests of the child to be a party to the proceedings and that recommendation is accepted by the court; he is already an adopted child; any party to the proceedings or the child is opposed to the arrangements for allowing any person contact with the child, or a person not being allowed contact with the child after the making of the adoption order; the application is for a Convention adoption order or a section 84 order; he has been brought into the United Kingdom in the circumstances where section 83(1) applies (restriction on bringing children in); the application is for an adoption order other than a Convention adoption order and the prospective adopters intend the child to live in a country or territory outside the British Islands after the making of the adoption order; or • the prospective adopters are relatives of the child.
A placement order (section 21)	Each parent who has parental responsibility for the child or guardian of the child; any person in whose favour an order under the 1989 Act is in force in relation to the child; any adoption agency or voluntary organisation which has parental responsibility for, is looking after, or is caring for, the child; the child; and the parties or any persons who are or have been parties to proceedings for a care order in respect of the child where those proceedings have led to the application for the placement order.
An order varying a placement order (section 23)	The parties to the proceedings leading to the placement order which it is sought to have varied except the child who was the subject of those proceedings; and any person in whose favour there is provision for contact.
An order revoking a placement order (section 24)	The parties to the proceedings leading to the placement order which it is sought to have revoked; and any person in whose favour there is provision for contact.
A contact order (section 26)	The adoption agency authorised to place the child for adoption or which has placed the child for adoption; the person with whom the child lives or is to live; each parent with parental responsibility for the child or guardian of the child; and the child where— the adoption agency authorised to place the child for adoption or which has placed the child for adoption or a parent with parental responsibility for the child opposes the making of the contact order under section 26; he opposes the making of the contact order under section 26; existing provision for contact is to be revoked; relatives of the child do not agree to the arrangements for allowing any person contact with the child, or a person not being allowed contact with the child; or he is suffering or is at risk of suffering harm within the meaning of the 1989 Act.
An order varying or revoking a contact order (section 27)	The parties to the proceedings leading to the contact order which it is sought to have varied or revoked; and any person named in the contact order.
An order permitting the child's name to be changed or the removal of the child from the United Kingdom (section 28(2) and (3))	The parties to proceedings leading to any placement order; the adoption agency authorised to place the child for adoption or which has placed the child for adoption; any prospective adopters with whom the child is living; and each parent with parental responsibility for the child or guardian of the child.
A section 88 direction	The adopters; the parents; the adoption agency; the local authority to whom notice under section 44 (notice of intention to apply for a section 84 order) has been given; and the Attorney-General.
A section 89 order	The adopters; the parents; the adoption agency; and the local authority to whom notice under section 44 (notice of intention to adopt or apply for a section 84 order) has been given.

    (2) The court may at any time direct that a child, who is not already a respondent to proceedings, be made a respondent to proceedings where—

(a) the child—


(i) wishes to make an application; or

(ii) has evidence to give to the court or a legal submission to make which has not been given or made by any other party; or



(b) there are other special circumstances.

    (3) The court may at any time direct that—

(a) any other person or body be made a respondent to proceedings; or

(b) a respondent be removed.

    (4) If the court makes a direction for the addition or removal of a party, it may give consequential directions about—

(a) serving a copy of the application form on any new respondent;

(b) serving relevant documents on the new party; and

(c) the management of the proceedings.

What the court or a court officer will do when the application has been issued
     24. —(1) As soon as practicable after the application has been issued in proceedings—

(a) the court will—


(i) if section 48(1) (restrictions on making adoption orders) applies, consider whether it is proper to hear the application;

(ii) subject to paragraph (4), set a date for the first directions hearing;

(iii) appoint a children's guardian in accordance with rule 59;

(iv) appoint a reporting officer in accordance with rule 69;

(v) consider whether a report relating to the welfare of the child is required, and if so, request such a report in accordance with rule 73;

(vi) set a date for the hearing of the application; and

(vii) do anything else that may be set out in a practice direction; and



(b) a court officer will—



(i) subject to receiving confirmation in accordance with paragraph (2)(b)(ii), give notice of any directions hearing set by the court to the parties and to any children's guardian, reporting officer or children and family reporter;

(ii) serve a copy of the application form (but, subject to sub-paragraphs (iii) and (iv), not the documents attached to it) on the persons referred to in the relevant practice direction;

(iii) send a copy of the certified copy of the entry in the register of live-births or Adopted Children Register and any health report attached to an application for an adoption order to—


(aa) any children's guardian, reporting officer or children and family reporter; and

(bb) the local authority to whom notice under section 44 (notice of intention to adopt or apply for a section 84 order) has been given;



(iv) if notice under rule 27 has been given (request to dispense with consent of parent or guardian), in accordance with that rule inform the parent or guardian of the request and send a copy of the statement of facts to—



(aa) the parent or guardian;

(bb) any children's guardian, reporting officer or children and family reporter;

(cc) any local authority to whom notice under section 44 (notice of intention to adopt or apply for a section 84 order) has been given; and

(dd) any adoption agency which has placed the child for adoption; and



(v) do anything else that may be set out in a practice direction.

    (2) In addition to the matters referred to in paragraph (1), as soon as practicable after an application for an adoption order or a section 84 order has been issued the court or the court officer will—

(a) where the child is not placed for adoption by an adoption agency—


(i) ask either the Service or the Assembly to file any relevant form of consent to an adoption order or a section 84 order; and

(ii) ask the local authority to prepare a report on the suitability of the prospective adopters if one has not already been prepared; and



(b) where the child is placed for adoption by an adoption agency, ask the adoption agency to—



(i) file any relevant form of consent to—


(aa) the child being placed for adoption;

(bb) an adoption order;

(cc) a future adoption order under section 20; or

(dd) a section 84 order;



(ii) confirm whether a statement has been made under section 20(4)(a) (statement of wish not to be informed of any application for an adoption order) and if so, to file that statement;

(iii) file any statement made under section 20(4)(b) (withdrawal of wish not to be informed of any application for an adoption order) as soon as it is received by the adoption agency; and

(iv) prepare a report on the suitability of the prospective adopters if one has not already been prepared.

    (3) In addition to the matters referred to in paragraph (1), as soon as practicable after an application for a placement order has been issued—

(a) the court will consider whether a report giving the local authority's reasons for placing the child for adoption is required, and if so, will direct the local authority to prepare such a report; and

(b) the court or the court officer will ask either the Service or the Assembly to file any form of consent to the child being placed for adoption.

    (4) Where it considers it appropriate the court may, instead of setting a date for a first directions hearing, give the directions provided for by rule 26.

Date for first directions hearing
     25. Unless the court directs otherwise, the first directions hearing must be within 4 weeks beginning with the date on which the application is issued.

The first directions hearing
     26. —(1) At the first directions hearing in the proceedings the court will—

(a) fix a timetable for the filing of—


(i) any report relating to the suitability of the applicants to adopt a child;

(ii) any report from the local authority;

(iii) any report from a children's guardian, reporting officer or children and family reporter;

(iv) if a statement of facts has been filed, any amended statement of facts;

(v) any other evidence, and



give directions relating to the reports and other evidence;

(b) consider whether an alternative dispute resolution procedure is appropriate and, if so, give directions relating to the use of such procedure;

(c) consider whether the child or any other person should be a party to the proceedings and, if so, give directions in accordance with rule 23(2) or (3) joining that child or person as a party;

(d) give directions relating to the appointment of a litigation friend for any patient or non-subject child unless a litigation friend has already been appointed;

(e) consider whether the case needs to be transferred to another court and, if so, give directions to transfer the proceedings to another court in accordance with any order made by the Lord Chancellor under Part I of Schedule 11 to the 1989 Act;

(f) give directions about—



(i) tracing parents or any other person the court considers to be relevant to the proceedings;

(ii) service of documents;

(iii) subject to paragraph (2), disclosure as soon as possible of information and evidence to the parties; and

(iv) the final hearing; and

    (2) Rule 77(2) applies to any direction given under paragraph (1)(f)(iii) as it applies to a direction given under rule 77(1).

    (3) In addition to the matters referred to in paragraph (1), the court will give any of the directions listed in the relevant practice direction in proceedings for—

(a) a Convention adoption order;

(b) a section 84 order;

(c) a section 88 direction;

(d) a section 89 order; or

(e) an adoption order where section 83(1) applies (restriction on bringing children in).

    (4) The parties or their legal representatives must attend the first directions hearing unless the court directs otherwise.

    (5) Directions may also be given at any stage in the proceedings—

(a) of the court's own initiative; or

(b) on the application of a party or any children's guardian or, where the direction concerns a report by a reporting officer or children and family reporter, the reporting officer or children and family reporter.

    (6) For the purposes of giving directions or for such purposes as the court directs—

(a) the court may set a date for a further directions hearing or other hearing; and

(b) the court officer will give notice of any date so fixed to the parties and to any children's guardian, reporting officer or children and family reporter.

    (7) After the first directions hearing the court will monitor compliance with the court's timetable and directions by the parties.

Requesting the court to dispense with the consent of any parent or guardian
     27. —(1) The following paragraphs apply where the applicant wants to ask the court to dispense with the consent of any parent or guardian of a child to—

(a) the child being placed for adoption;

(b) the making of an adoption order except a Convention adoption order; or

(c) the making of a section 84 order.

    (2) The applicant requesting the court to dispense with the consent must—

(a) give notice of the request in the application form or at any later stage by filing a written request setting out the reasons for the request; and

(b) file a statement of facts setting out a summary of the history of the case and any other facts to satisfy the court that—


(i) the parent or guardian cannot be found or is incapable of giving consent; or

(ii) the welfare of the child requires the consent to be dispensed with.

    (3) If a serial number has been assigned to the applicant under rule 20, the statement of facts supplied under paragraph (2)(b) must be framed so that it does not disclose the identity of the applicant.

    (4) On receipt of the notice of the request—

(a) a court officer will—


(i) inform the parent or guardian of the request; and

(ii) send a copy of the statement of facts filed in accordance with paragraph (2)(b) to—


(aa) the parent or guardian;

(bb) any children's guardian, reporting officer or children and family reporter;

(cc) any local authority to whom notice under section 44 (notice of intention to adopt or apply for a section 84 order) has been given; and

(dd) any adoption agency which has placed the child for adoption; and



(b) if the applicant considers that the parent or guardian is incapable of giving consent, the court will consider whether to—



(i) appoint a litigation friend for the parent or guardian under rule 55(1); or

(ii) give directions for an application to be made under rule 55(3),



unless a litigation friend is already appointed for that parent or guardian.

Consent
     28. —(1) Consent of any parent or guardian of a child—

(a) under section 19, to the child being placed for adoption; and

(b) under section 20, to the making of a future adoption order

must be given in the form required by the relevant practice direction or a form to the like effect.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (3), consent—

(a) to the making of an adoption order; or

(b) to the making of a section 84 order,

may be given in the form required by the relevant practice direction or a form to the like effect.

    (3) Any consent to a Convention adoption order must be in a form which complies with the internal law relating to adoption of the Convention country of which the child is habitually resident.

    (4) Any form of consent executed in Scotland must be witnessed by a Justice of the Peace or a Sheriff.

    (5) Any form of consent executed in Northern Ireland must be witnessed by a Justice of the Peace.

    (6) Any form of consent executed outside the United Kingdom must be witnessed by—

(a) any person for the time being authorised by law in the place where the document is executed to administer an oath for any judicial or other legal purpose;

(b) a British Consular officer;

(c) a notary public; or

(d) if the person executing the document is serving in any of the regular armed forces of the Crown, an officer holding a commission in any of those forces.

Reports by the adoption agency or local authority
     29. —(1) The adoption agency or local authority must file the report on the suitability of the applicant to adopt a child within the timetable fixed by the court.

    (2) A local authority that is directed to prepare a report on the placement of the child for adoption must file that report within the timetable fixed by the court.

    (3) The reports must cover the matters specified in the relevant practice direction.

    (4) The court may at any stage request a further report or ask the adoption agency or local authority to assist the court in any other manner.

    (5) A court officer will send a copy of any report referred to in this rule to any children's guardian, reporting officer or children and family reporter.

    (6) Any report to the court under this rule will be confidential.

Health reports
     30. —(1) Reports by a registered medical practitioner ("health reports") made not more than three months earlier on the health of the child and of each applicant must be attached to an application for an adoption order or a section 84 order except where—

(a) the child was placed for adoption with the applicant by an adoption agency;

(b) the applicant or one of the applicants is a parent of the child; or

(c) the applicant is the partner of a parent of the child.

    (2) Health reports must contain the matters set out in the relevant practice direction.

    (3) Any health report will be confidential.

Notice of final hearing
     31. A court officer will give notice to the parties, any children's guardian, reporting officer or children and family reporter and to any other person that may be referred to in a practice direction—

(a) of the date and place where the application will be heard; and

(b) of the fact that, unless the person wishes or the court requires, the person need not attend.

The final hearing
     32. —(1) Any person who has been given notice in accordance with rule 31 may attend the final hearing and, subject to paragraph (2), be heard on the question of whether an order should be made.

    (2) A person whose application for the permission of the court to oppose the making of an adoption order under section 47(3) or (5) has been refused is not entitled to be heard on the question of whether an order should be made.

    (3) Any member or employee of a party which is a local authority, adoption agency or other body may address the court at the final hearing if he is authorised to do so.

    (4) The court may direct that any person must attend a final hearing.

    (5) Paragraphs (6) and (7) apply to—

(a) an adoption order;

(b) a section 84 order; or

(c) a section 89 order.

    (6) Subject to paragraphs (7) and (8), the court cannot make an order unless the applicant and the child personally attend the final hearing.

    (7) The court may direct that the applicant or the child need not attend the final hearing.

    (8) In a case of adoption by a couple[19] under section 50 the court may make an adoption order after personal attendance of one only of the applicants if there are special circumstances.

    (9) The court cannot make a placement order unless a legal representative of the applicant attends the final hearing.

Proof of identity of the child
     33. —(1) Unless the contrary is shown, the child referred to in the application will be deemed to be the child referred to in the form of consent—

(a) to the child being placed for adoption;

(b) to the making of an adoption order; or

(c) to the making of a section 84 order

where the conditions in paragraph (2) apply.

    (2) The conditions are—

(a) the application identifies the child by reference to a full certified copy of an entry in the registers of live-births;

(b) the form of consent identifies the child by reference to a full certified copy of an entry in the registers of live-births attached to the form; and

(c) the copy of the entry in the registers of live-births referred to in sub-paragraph (a) is the same or relates to the same entry in the registers of live-births as the copy of the entry in the registers of live-births attached to the form of consent.

    (3) Where the child is already an adopted child paragraph (2) will have effect as if for the references to the registers of live-births there were substituted references to the Adopted Children Register.

    (4) Subject to paragraph (7), where the precise date of the child's birth is not proved to the satisfaction of the court, the court will determine the probable date of birth.

    (5) The probable date of the child's birth may be specified in the placement order, adoption order or section 84 order as the date of his birth.

    (6) Subject to paragraph (7), where the child's place of birth cannot be proved to the satisfaction of the court—

(a) he may be treated as having been born in the registration district of the court where it is probable that the child may have been born in—


(i) the United Kingdom;

(ii) the Channel Islands; or

(iii) the Isle of Man; or



(b) in any other case, the particulars of the country of birth may be omitted from the placement order, adoption order or section 84 order.

    (7) A placement order identifying the probable date and place of birth of the child will be sufficient proof of the date and place of birth of the child in adoption proceedings and proceedings for a section 84 order.