hi, im 15 and I live with my parents who took me in at 11 months on a special guardianship order. I don’t have the same last name as them as my birth parents didn’t agree with my parents to change my last name (I call myself their last name anyway but on official documents and exams I have to have my birth name)
i don’t ever remember seeing my birth father (he wasn’t interested) and I stopped seeing my birth mother when I was 8, it was my choice, I didn’t want to see her anymore.
is it true that I can request to be adopted by my mum and dad when I turn 16? I know they can’t adopt me as we don’t think my birth mum will agree with it (birth father has no say due to never being in contact etc), but they haven’t been able to do the adoption process before due to her being selfish even though she is nothing to me. I have lived with my mum dad and sister since I can remember and they’re my family. I want to be adopted by them and have their last name more than anything but I want to surprise them on my 16th by asking to be adopted - is this something I can do without having to ‘ask’ my birth mum?
thanks
Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on adoption.
Adoption
Can I ‘adopt’ my parents at 16? special guardianship order sgo
pinkrosezz · 16/03/2024 20:06
Jellycatspyjamas · 17/03/2024 15:32
The application to adopt has to be made by your parents, and they can do this through what is often termed a “non-agency” adoption which just means that it isn’t the local authority making the application. Your age won’t make a difference in this situation, as long as you are under 18.
Your birth parents will need to give consent. Whole your birth dad has never been in your life, he still has parental rights, as does your birth mum. Because adoption both gives your parents full parental rights and removes parental rights from your birth parents, your birth parents need to be given the opportunity to respond, because adoption ends your legal relationship with them. If they don’t consent, your parents could apply to court to have the requirement for consent set aside - your parents would need to evidence that it would impact your welfare not to be adopted, which might be tricky if the SGO has been working all this time.
The legalities and process are a bit different depending on which country of the UK you live in, and on the local authority so if you’re happy saying which nation you’re part of I might be able to be more specific.
It’s a lovely thing you want, and I’m sorry it’s not more straightforward after all this time. One thing you can do at 16 is legally change your name, which I know isn’t the same thing but would be a relatively easy process.
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