Adoption of Children Act 2022 · Updated to 15 Oct 2024 · Part 3 · Adoption Proceedings
23. Power to make adoption orders
Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged
Upon an adoption application in respect of a child, the court may, subject to the provisions of this Act, make an order for the adoption of that child by the applicants jointly or the applicant solely, as the case may be.
adoption application
“adoption application” means an application made under this Act for an adoption order;
An adoption order may be made for the adoption of a child by the father or mother of the child, either solely or jointly with his or her spouse.
Except as provided in this section, no adoption order may be made for the adoption of a child by more than one individual.
child
“child”, if age rather than descendancy is relevant, means an individual below 21 years of age;
An adoption order may be made in respect of a child who has already been the subject of an adoption order (including an adoption order made under the repealed Act) and, upon any application for a further adoption order, the adoptive parents or adoptive parent under the adoption order last previously made are or is, if living, deemed to be the parents or parent (as the case may be) of the child for the purposes of this Act.
The court may impose any terms and conditions on an adoption order that the court thinks fit and may, in particular, require the adoptive parents or adoptive parent (as the case may be) by bond or otherwise to make any provision for the child in respect of whom the adoption order is made that in the opinion of the court is just and expedient.
court
“court” means the Family Division of the High Court, a Family Court, or any court hearing an appeal against an order or a decision of the Family Division of the High Court or a Family Court, except in sections 48, 51, 66, 69, 70, 72 and 73 where “court” means a court of competent jurisdiction;
Terms defined in s 2
adoption application
Defined · s 2“adoption application” means an application made under this Act for an adoption order;
adoptive parent
Defined · s 2“adoptive parent” means an individual who adopts a child under an adoption order and, in the case of an adoption order made in favour of 2 applicants jointly, means either of the applicants;
applicant
Defined · s 2“applicant” means an individual who makes an adoption application, whether solely or jointly, and for the purposes of Part 2, includes an individual who intends to make an adoption application; and
applicants
Defined · s 2“applicants” means both applicants in the case of a joint adoption application mentioned in section 4;
child
Defined · s 2“child”, if age rather than descendancy is relevant, means an individual below 21 years of age;
court
Defined · s 2“court” means the Family Division of the High Court, a Family Court, or any court hearing an appeal against an order or a decision of the Family Division of the High Court or a Family Court, except in sections 48, 51, 66, 69, 70, 72 and 73 where “court” means a court of competent jurisdiction;
father
Defined · s 2“father”, in relation to an illegitimate child, means the biological father;
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Part 4
Post-Adoption Matters
Part 5
Confidentiality of Children Involved in Adoption Proceedings
Part 6
Regulation of Adoption Practices and Processes
Part 7
Enforcement
Part 8
General Provisions
Part 9