NTIn ForceAct
Adoption of Children Act 1994
13Adoption by couple
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 13
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Adoption of Children Act 1994.
13 Adoption by couple
(1) Except as provided by this section, the Court may make an order
for the adoption of a child in favour of 2 persons, who, on the date
on which the order is made:
(a) are married to each other and have been so married for not
less than 2 years; or
(b) have entered into a relationship that is recognised as a
traditional Aboriginal marriage and has been so recognised for
not less than 2 years; or
(c) are in a de facto relationship with each other and have been
so for not less than 2 years; or
(d) have been living with each other in any combination of the
relationships mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) and have
been so living for not less than 2 years.
(2) The Court must not make an order for adoption in favour of
2 persons jointly under subsection (1) where one of them is a
parent of the child.
Part 3 Adoptions under this Act
Division 1 General
Adoption of Children Act 1994 8