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Adoption of Children Act 1994
12Who may be adopted
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12 Who may be adopted
(1) Subject to this Act, the Court may, on application, make an order for
the adoption of a child who:
(a) had not attained the age of 18 years before the date on which
the application was filed in the Court; or
(b) has been brought up, maintained and educated by the
applicant or applicants, or by the applicant and a deceased or
estranged spouse of the applicant, as their child.
(2) The Court must not make an order for the adoption of a child who is
or has been married, is living or has lived in a de facto relationship
or has entered into a traditional Aboriginal marriage.
(3) An order may be made under this Act for the adoption of a child
even if the child has, whether before or after the commencement of
this Act, and whether in the Territory or elsewhere, previously been
adopted.