Adoption Solicitors in Scotland
We are here to help. Whether you are looking to adopt a child in Scotland or oppose the process, our expert team can guide you through every step.
- Specialists in Scottish family law and divorce
- Fixed-fee consultations from £250+VAT
- Book a consultation today and take the first step towards your future
Clear guidance through a court process that permanently changes legal parenthood.
An adoption order creates a permanent legal parent-child relationship. It transfers parental responsibilities and rights to the adopter and brings the previous legal relationship with birth parents to an end for most purposes. The consequences are lifelong, so the process is necessarily careful.
We advise prospective adopters, step-parents and birth parents throughout Scotland. We can become involved at the planning stage, once an adoption petition is being prepared, or where an application is opposed.
A team with extensive experience across the full range of family law.
Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, with telephone and video appointments available throughout Scotland.
Focused advice from a family solicitor, followed by a written assessment and a tailored fee estimate.
A dedicated family law team handling everything from straightforward separation to complex financial and child law disputes.
What Does Our Adoption Service Include?
At Kee Solicitors, we guide prospective adoptive parents through every stage of the adoption process in Scotland. Our team provides clear, compassionate advice on the legal requirements, court proceedings and timescales involved, helping you build your family with confidence.
The Scottish adoption process, consent and the child's welfare.
Many non-step-parent adoptions begin through a local authority or registered adoption agency, which assesses the prospective adopter and prepares reports. A court petition is then lodged with the required documents and reports. The court may appoint a reporting officer or curator and will arrange the procedure appropriate to the case.
The child’s welfare throughout life is the paramount consideration. The court considers the child’s views where appropriate, relationships, identity, needs and the likely effect of adoption. Parental consent is normally required unless the court is satisfied that a statutory ground for dispensing with consent has been established.
A step-parent adoption can formalise an existing family relationship but also changes the legal position of the other birth parent. Alternatives, including a section 11 order conferring PRRs, should be considered where they may better fit the family’s circumstances.
Permanence orders are sought by local authorities to secure a long-term legal framework for a child. They can include authority for adoption. We advise and represent parties in both permanence and adoption proceedings.
Our Dedicated Team of Family Law Experts
Sensitive representation for agreed and contested adoption cases.
We explain the legal effect, documents, reports and likely court stages in plain language. Where the application is contested, we identify the evidence and represent you through hearings or proof.
Fees depend on the type of application, the work already completed by the agency or local authority and whether opposition is expected. We confirm the scope once the papers and circumstances are understood.
Our one-hour fixed-fee initial consultation costs £250 + VAT. You will receive focused advice from a family solicitor, a written assessment of your position and a tailored estimate for any further work.
Hear Directly From Kee Solicitor Experts
Frequently Asked Questions: Adoption in Scotland
Common questions about adoption law in Scotland.
How does adoption work in Scotland?
The route depends on whether it is an agency, step-parent or other adoption. Assessment and reports are followed by a court petition. The court applies the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 and treats the child’s welfare throughout life as paramount.
How long does an adoption take?
There is no single timescale. Agency assessment can take many months, and the court stage depends on reports, consent, opposition and the child’s circumstances. We can estimate the legal stages once the route is clear.
Can a birth parent oppose an adoption?
Yes. A birth parent can oppose and the court may require evidence. Adoption can still be granted without consent only if a statutory ground for dispensing with consent is established and the order is justified by the child’s welfare.
Can same-sex couples adopt in Scotland?
Yes. Eligibility is not restricted by sexual orientation. The same assessment and child welfare framework applies to same-sex and different-sex adopters.
What is a permanence order?
It is an order sought by a local authority to provide a secure long-term legal framework for a child. It allocates parental responsibilities and rights and may include authority for the child to be adopted.
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