Intro
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Contents
Part IAdoption, Society and the Law: The Common Law Context
1 Adoption: Concepts, Principles and Social Construct
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Definitional Matters and Related Concepts
1.2.1 Legal Definition
1.2.2 Concepts
1.3 Social Construct
1.3.1 Adoption and the Inheritance Motive
1.3.2 Adoption and the Kinship Motive
1.3.3 Adoption and the Allegiance Motive
1.3.4 Adoption and the 'Extra Pair of Hands' Motive
1.3.5 Adoption and the Welfare Motive
1.3.6 Adoption and the Childless Couple Motive

1.3.7 Adoption and the Social Conformity Motive
1.3.8 Adoption and the Right to an Identity Motive
1.4 Adoption in England: Historical Context
1.4.1 The Common Law: Parental Rights and Duties
1.4.2 The Poor Laws
1.4.3 Pressures for Change
End of the Nineteenth Century
1.5 Adoption Legislation: Evolving Principles and Policy
1.5.1 The Adoption Act 1926
1.5.2 The Adoption of Children (Regulation) Act 1939
1.5.3 The Adoption Act 1949
1.5.4 The Children Act 1975
1.5.5 The Adoption Act 1976
1.5.6 The Children Act 1989

1.5.7 Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999
1.5.8 The Adoption and Children Act 2002
1.6 Legal Context: Evolution of a Modern Statutory Process
1.6.1 The 'Contract'
1.6.2 The Parties
1.6.3 The Principles
1.6.4 Contract or Gift Relationship
1.7 Conclusion
2 The Changing Face of Adoption
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Modern Adoption Trends in the United Kingdom
2.2.1 From Traditional Model to Modern Variants
2.2.2 Causes of Change
2.2.3 Consequences for the Adoption Process
2.3 Family Adoption
2.3.1 Trends in Annual Orders

2.3.2 Adoption by Birth Parent and Spouse
2.3.3 Adoption by Grandparent
2.3.4 Other Relative Adoptions
2.3.5 The Welfare Principle, the Blood Link and Family Adoptions
2.4 Agency Adoption
2.4.1 Trends in Annual Orders
2.4.2 Voluntary Society Adoptions
2.4.3 Child Care Adoptions
2.4.4 The Welfare Principle and Agency Adoptions
2.5 Intercountry Adoptions
2.5.1 Trends in Annual Orders
2.5.2 Transracial Adoptions
2.5.3 The Welfare Principle and Intercountry Adoptions
2.6 A Coherent Legal Model for Adoption Practice
2.6.1 Classification of Adoption by Type

2.6.2 Social Role
2.6.3 Legal Functions
2.7 Conclusion
Part IIDeveloping International Benchmarks for Modern Adoption Law
3 The Legal Functions of Adoption
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Regulating the Adoption Process
3.2.1 The Adoption Process
3.2.2 Role of the Judiciary or Other Determining Body
3.2.3 Role of Administrative Agencies
3.3 Thresholds for Entering the Adoption Process: Eligibility and Suitability Criteria
3.3.1 The Child
3.3.2 The Birth Parent/s
3.3.3 The Adopters
3.4 Pre-placement Counselling
3.4.1 The Birth Parent/s
3.4.2 The Child