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Children's Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005)

Chapter 15 : Adoption

239. Application for adoption order

 

(1) An application for the adoption of a child must—
(a) be made to a children's court in the prescribed manner;
(b) be accompanied by a report, in the prescribed format, by an adoption social worker containing—
(i) information on whether the child is adoptable as contemplated in section 230(3);
(ii) information on whether the adoption is in the best interests of the child; and
(iii) prescribed medical information in relation to the child.
(c) be accompanied by an assessment referred to in section 231(2)(d);
(d) be accompanied by a letter by the provincial head of social development recommending the adoption of the child; and
(e) contain such prescribed particulars.

 

(2) When an application for the adoption of a child is brought before a children’s court, the clerk of the children’s court must submit to the court—
(a) any consent for the adoption of the child filed with a clerk of the children’s court in terms of section 233(6);
(b) any information established by a clerk of the children’s court in terms of section 237(2);
(c) any written responses to requests in terms of section 237(2);
(d) a report on any failure to respond to those requests; and
(e) any other information that may assist the court or that may be prescribed.

 

(3) An applicant has no access to any documents lodged with the court by other parties except with the permission of the court.