Information please, maximum age of adoption by biological father

[Passthemuslin]

Sorry to gatecrash this site, but I would really appreciate some information.

Long story, but basically my questions are thus:

What is the maximum age (if there is one) that someone can be legally adopted?
My son is 17 and we are considering adoption by his biological father.

If another person is named as the father on the birth certificate, is there a process to have his name removed and replaced with the adopting biological father?

Would the non-biological father need to give consent for the adoption and/or having his name removed? We have had DNA confirmation.

Sorry if some of these questions are outside the remit of this site, any information will be gratefully received.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Adoptionfosteringandchildrenincare/AdoptionAndFostering/DG_4019657

You might find that link useful.

Basically, if your child was adopted, it is the adoptive parent who is now considered his father; the rights of the birth father cease to exist.

You'd have to make an application before he is 18 and the adoptive parent would most certainly have to be involved. You would need to show why this application was in the child's best interests.

Many thanks, Spero, that link is just what I needed.

if you want to correct a birth certificate to a biological father you don't need to adopt the child/adult you can apply to court for a ?Declaration of Parentage? local court will basically send your DS and his suspected bio father for a DNA test at a court approved tester and they will then issue a copy of the declaration directly to the General Register Office for the birth to be re-registered. To apply for a Declaration of Parentage, contact a solicitor or the Chief Clerk at your local Magistrates or County Court

sorry I am assuming that your son was not previously adopted but has the wrong father named on his birth cert - your DH at the time perhaps?

Does this help?

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevents/Birthandadoptionrecords/Registeringorchangingabirthrecord/DG_175618

Thank you for your replies.

You are spot on Kew, DH was on the birth certificate. Changing the name on the Birth Certificate to the real father is one issue, but what has prompted this question is that the bio father now lives in New Zealand, and would like to pass on citizenship by descent, so that DS can go out there to study/job opportunities. He thought he could do this as he has NZ citizenship (aquired about 2 years ago), but it turns out he can only pass it on if he was a NZ citizen at the time of birth or adoption.

As he was a UK citizen when DS was born, the only other option I can see to enable him to pass on the citizenship is if he adopts him now. (I suppose another question is can you adopt a biological child?)

Sorry it is so complicated, I did say it was a long story!!

Thank you for that link, Prettybird, that is helpful too. :)

I suspect you would have to show why the adoption woud be in your sons best interest. Adoption as a way of circumventing immigration procedures is generally frowned on by the authorities