[Robin Harritt]

The remaining changes to the law under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 which everyone was expected to be implemented from September of this year, are now scheduled to come in to force on the 30th of December 2005. Don't hold your breath.

This is the date on which the statutory right to access an intermediary service by birth relatives will now begin. It is also the date upon which Adoption Support Agencies will come in to effect and it will no longer be lawful for anyone not registered as an ASA to offer a post adoption intermediary service of any kind.

Robin Harritt

http://harritt.net

[Robin Harritt]

The following new Regulations for England & Wales have been laid before Parliament and will become effective on the 30th of December this year. Please take the bother to read them if you are searching, helping people to search or hope to be searched for and your adoption was finalised in England and Wales since the 1st of January 1927 (all but the last one affect you).


Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 890 The Adoption Information and Intermediary Services (Pre-Commencement Adoptions) Regulations 2005

Made 22nd March 2005

Laid before Parliament 7th April 2005

Coming into force 30th December 2005


http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2005/20050890.htm


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Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 924 The Adopted Children and Adoption Contact Registers Regulations 2005

Made 24th March 2005

Laid before Parliament 29th March 2005

Coming into force 30th December 2005

Note: in fact *Children* can not use this register but the title reflects the personal belief of Mrs Margaret Hodge MP and her Ilk that anyone who is adopted remains for ever and ever a child in need of protection from the intrusion of their natural family.

http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2005/20050924.htm


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This one is about future adoptions

Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 888 The Disclosure of Adoption Information (Post-Commencement Adoptions) Regulations 2005

Made 22nd March 2005

Laid before Parliament 7th April 2005

Coming into force 30th December 2005

http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2005/20050888.htm


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The Adoption Support Agencies Regulations did not make it before the restrictions related to the calling of a General Election came into effect. But will no doubt will be laid before the new government shortly after parliament returns

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[Robin Harritt]

I just thought you'd all be ever so interested to know that you can now download the practice guidance to most of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 in PDF format from

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/adoption/update290705.shtml


The part that applies to most of us here is Chapter 10

Intermediary services and access to information in pre-commencement adoptions.

This part of the guidance explains the legal framework governing the provision of intermediary services to facilitate contact between adopted adults and their adult birth relatives in respect of any adoption prior to 30th December 2005. The regulations provide a framework within which intermediary agencies may, on application from an adopted adult or an adult birth relative of that person, act as intermediaries and, with the consent of the subject of an application, facilitate contact between them.

Happy reading folks.

Robin