17 April 2015
FAS v [A Local Authority] and another [2015] EWHC 622 (Fam), [2015] All ER (D) 232 (Mar)
An application had been made by a British citizen to adopt her cousin, a Pakistan national. The application was made before his 18th birthday, but the present proceedings took place after that birthday. The Family Court held that the court would rarely make an adoption order when it would confer no benefits upon the child during its childhood but gave a right of abode for the rest of its life. That was not inconsistent with s 1(2) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002. In the present case, where the only benefit to adoption would be the grant of citizenship, the application was dismissed.
