New South Wales Consolidated Acts

ADOPTION ACT 2000 - SECT 54

54 When consent of parent or person who has parental responsibility not required

(cf AC Act s 26 (4A))

(1) Consent is not required under section 52 if--

(a) the requirement for the consent has been dispensed with by the Court, or

Note : See Division 3 of Part 5.

(b) the parent whose consent would otherwise be required by section 52 is a proposed adoptive parent, or

(c) the child gives sole consent to his or her adoption in accordance with subsection (2), or

(d) the child is 18 or more years of age.

(2) A child who is 12 or more years of age and of sufficient maturity to understand the effect of giving consent may give sole consent to his or her adoption by a proposed adoptive parent or parents if the child has been cared for by the proposed adoptive parent or parents for at least 2 years.

(3) However, the Court must not make an adoption order in relation to a child who is less than 18 years of age who gives sole consent to his or her adoption, unless--

(a) the Court is satisfied that at least 14 days' notice of the application for the adoption order has been given by the Secretary or appropriate principal officer to the parent or person who has parental responsibility whose consent would otherwise be required, or

(b) the Court dispenses with the giving of notice.

(4) The regulations may prescribe the particulars to be contained in a notice under this section.

Note :
"Parental responsibility" is defined in the Dictionary.