What are the alternatives to step parent adoption?

 

 

 This is an alternative to step parent adoption introduced by the Adoption and Children Act 2002. It can only apply when the step parent is married to, or is a civil partner of, the child's parent. A Parental Responsibility Agreement is a formal agreement between the step parent, his or her partner and the other parent to share parental responsibility for the child. This means a step parent can make important decisions which affect the child. If a Parental Responsibility agreement is in place, the step parent continues to hold parental responsibility if his or her partner dies.

 

This is the same as a parental responsibility agreement except it is made by a court order.

 

A Residence Order is an order made by the court which settles who a child should live with and gives a degree of parental responsibility to those people. So if a step parent is named in a Residence Order, he or she will also get parental responsibility. While a residence order is in force no one is allowed to agree to adoption, change the child's surname or arrange for the child's emigration unless everyone with parental responsibility agrees. If a residence order is in place, a step-parent continues to hold parental responsibility if his or her partner dies.

 

This is a 'half way house' between a Residence Order and an Adoption Order. The order gives parental responsibility to the Special Guardians which is shared with the birth parents, and allows the Special Guardians to make most of the day to day decisions about the child without needing to ask the other birth parent.

 

If the child's birth-parents were married, you need permission from both to change the child's surname. Sometimes children welcome the change, but it can also cause anger or confusion, so this is a step to think carefully about. A child's name can be changed by deed poll.