ACTIn ForceAct
Adoption Act 1993
14Additional requirements for adoption of child or young
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14 Additional requirements for adoption of child or young
person
An adoption order for a child or young person may be made in favour
of a person only if—
(a) the person is on the register of suitable people; and
(b) for an order to be made in favour of 2 people jointly—
(i) they have lived together in a domestic partnership for at
least 3 years (whether or not married or in a civil union);
and
(ii) the court considers they have demonstrated the stability of,
and their commitment to, their domestic partnership; and
(c) for an order to be made in favour of 1 person only—the person
either—
(i) is a step parent of the child or young person; or
(ii) is not in a domestic partnership; and
(d) if the person is a step-parent of the child or young person—the
Family Court of Australia has given the step-parent leave to
commence a proceeding for the adoption of the child or young
person under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cwlth), section 60G
(Family Court may grant leave for adoption proceedings by
prescribed adopting parent); and
Who can adopt? Division 3.2
(e) if the person is a relative of the child or young person—the court
considers that—
(i) the family circumstances mean that it would be beneficial
for the child or young person if the relationships within the
family were redefined in the way the order would redefine
them; and
(ii) it would not be preferable to make an order relating to
guardianship or custody of the child or young person.