Adoption Order and Adoption Certificate - Difference?!

[Aammgg123]

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone can clarify something for me - i have emailed the courts also.. but they seem to take forever to reply.

What is the Adoption order? I understand the Adoption certificate.. its like a birth certificate for when the adoption order has been sent to the registry. But can someone clarify for me what is an Adoption Order - i understand its legal presence but i mean as a physical item?

Is it a physical piece of paper?
When after the court hearing does the judge issue it?
Do they give it to the Social Worker after the case is heard? or do they send it in the post?

The passport office says i can get a passport with it, but i am getting conflicting messages about what it is when i google!

Many Thanks

The adoption order is a piece of paper that is issued by the court detailing that the judge authorised the adoption. You should have seen your child's care and placement orders as part of the process and should receive a copy of the AO from the court. It is the legal basis on which the adoption certificate is issued. The adoption certificate details your land your child's legal relationship, is written in a similar format to a birth certificate and replaces it. The birth certificate can no longer be used to prove identity and is an historical document only. The general registry office has an adoption register that it records and links the 2 documents on.

Thanks!

Do you know how soon we can get the physical adoption order from the hearing?
Is it same day or do they post it to you?

I would imagine it varies from court to court. Ours took several weeks to come through both times. I presume there will be some kind of bureaucratic process to follow involving who types it up, who signs off on it and who posts it out.

If you’re in Scotland the replacement Birth Certificate is the Adoption Order, you don’t get a separate piece of paper. It’s issued by the Court usually within 21 days of the adoption hearing.