Defined legal service
Adoption of a child, including by a spouse
Legal support for applicant requirements, child-services documents, required consents and the court application.
The problem you need to resolve
- the applicant is following the statutory procedure
- a spouse seeks to adopt the other spouse’s child
What you receive
- a personalised document list
- an agreed application without a promised outcome
What we do
- review the questionnaire, deadlines and agreed document list
- separate verified facts from assumptions and define the legal objective
- eligibility and statutory restrictions
- document and consent map
- court application and agreed representation
What we need from you
- identity and family records
- medical, income and housing documents
- child-services opinion
- the child’s documents and required consents
- answer focused follow-up questions and verify the factual information
- do not send a full set of sensitive documents before the conflict-of-interest check and agreement of a protected channel
Fees
- Fees depend on the facts and scope of support. After a short discussion, we explain what the work includes and its cost. Fees are agreed before work begins.
- A possible first stage is a written action plan: review of agreed documents, legal assessment, next steps, deadlines, risks and alternatives.
- Additional objectives, extensive materials and foreign-language documents are discussed separately.
- Court fees and other mandatory payments are separate from the lawyer's fee. Notarial, translation, valuation and expert costs are also agreed separately.
What may change the route
- objections or new claims from another party
- missing, inconsistent or newly received documents
- the need for valuation, expert evidence, a notarial or registration step
- existing court or enforcement proceedings, a missed or imminent deadline
- the applicant files personally and participates in the hearing
When this service is not suitable
- a lawyer cannot select a child or act as a commercial intermediary
- intercountry adoption requires a separate scope
How we report progress
- we agree the communication channel before work begins
- we report receipt of materials, completion of the assessment, document readiness and the next required action
- where new facts or extra work arise, we first explain the effect on timing and fees and ask for your approval
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer file in place of the adopter?
No.
Is the other spouse’s consent always required?
It is generally required, subject to statutory exceptions.
Does a complete file guarantee approval?
No. The court assesses the child’s best interests and all circumstances.