187Prohibition on contact with birth parents of child

187 Prohibition on contact with birth parents of child

187 Prohibition on contact with birth parents of child

(1) A prospective adoptive parent of a child must not—

(a) contact or attempt to contact a birth parent of the child, or

(b) procure another person to contact or attempt to contact a birth parent,

(whether in or outside New South Wales) before the child has been allocated to the adoptive parent in accordance with this Act and the allocation has been accepted.

Maximum penalty—25 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.

(2) It is not an offence to contact or attempt to contact a birth parent or procure another person to contact or attempt to contact a birth parent if —

(a) the prospective adoptive parent is a relative or a step parent, or

(b) the contact has been approved by the Secretary.