P (A Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 1174 (15 August 2014)

[Legal Beagles]

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The appeal arises from a determination by His Honour Judge Gareth Jones, sitting in Wrexham County Court, on 29th January 2014 in which the judge dismissed a step-father's application to adopt his two step-children. Permission to appeal was granted by Ryder LJ and we heard the appeal on 26th June 2014. At the conclusion of that hearing we announced our decision, which was to allow the appeal and to make the adoption orders. In view of the wider issues raised, we indicated that our judgments would be handed down in written form at a later date.

[leclerc]

Re: P (A Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 1174 (15 August 2014)

This case is about the adoption of step children and specifically states that the original judge erred in their decision. The issue at the heart of that is about the issue of adoption being the "only remedy that will do" and the context of irrevocably removing parental responsibility from one of the birth parents. Since neither father or A or D had actively sought to play any role in the lives of the children then the order was appropriate. This case is slightly different to cases going before the Appeals judge which relate to "forced adoption" ie where parental consent is dispensed of, despite the objection of one or both of the parents.