ACTIn ForceAct
Adoption Act 1993
39FDeciding application for adoption order for child or young
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39F Deciding application for adoption order for child or young
person
(1) The court must not make an adoption order for a child or young
person unless—
(a) each consent required under division 3.3 has been given; and
(b) the period within which each required consent may be revoked
has expired without the consent having been revoked; and
(c) after considering the report or reports given to it under
section 39D (Report on proposed adoption) or section 57A
(Report on child for intercountry adoption) and any other
evidence, the court considers that—
(i) each applicant is of good reputation and able to fulfil the
responsibility of the parent of a child or young person
(including protecting a child’s or young person’s physical
and emotional well being); and
(ii) each applicant is suitable to adopt the particular child or
young person having regard to—
(A) the applicant’s age, education and attitude to
adoption; and
(B) the applicant’s physical, mental and emotional health,
particularly as it impacts on capacity to nurture the
child or young person; and
(C) any other relevant consideration; and
(iii) the adoption is in the best interests of the child or young
(2) In deciding whether or not to make an adoption order, the court must
have regard to—
(a) the views expressed by the child or young person in the
consultation required under section 39E (Consultation with
child or young person before adoption order made); and
(b) any preferences expressed in an adoption plan given to the court
as part of a report required under section 39D (Report on
proposed adoption).
Note Additional requirements apply to certain intercountry adoptions. See the
following sections:
• s 57 (3) (Adoption in ACT of ACT child or young person by parents
from Convention country);
• s 57B (3) (Adoption in ACT of child or young person from
Convention country by ACT parents);
• s 57J (2) (Adoption in ACT of child or young person from prescribed
overseas jurisdiction by ACT parents).