Adoption of Children Act 2022 · Updated to 15 Oct 2024 · Part 6 · Regulation of Adoption Practices and Processes
56. Use of fraud, duress, undue influence or other improper means to obtain consent to adoption, etc.
Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged
A person must not, whether or not an adoption application in respect of a child has been made, do any thing fraudulently to induce, or use any duress, undue influence or other improper means with the knowledge that it will induce or is likely to induce, any of the following:
adoption application
“adoption application” means an application made under this Act for an adoption order;
the agreement of a relevant person of a child to offer or refrain from offering the child for adoption in Singapore;
the transfer of the physical custody of a child, or the custody or care and control of a child, with a view to the child’s adoption in Singapore;
the consent of a relevant person of a child required under section 26 or the revocation of the consent.
A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both; or
in the case of a second or subsequent conviction — to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 years or to both.
Where any consent of a relevant person of a child is obtained in contravention of subsection (1)(c) (whether or not any person has been convicted of an offence under subsection (2) in relation to the consent), the court may make a declaration that the consent is void.
relevant person
“relevant person”, in relation to a child, or a protected person mentioned in Part 5, means any person who —(a)is a parent or guardian of the child or protected person;(b)has actual custody of the child or protected person; or(c)is liable to contribute to the support of the child or protected person;
Nothing in subsection (3) affects the validity of any adoption order or interim order that has been made before the court makes a declaration mentioned in that subsection.
Terms defined in s 2
adoption application
Defined · s 2“adoption application” means an application made under this Act for an adoption order;
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;
relevant person
Defined · s 2“relevant person”, in relation to a child, or a protected person mentioned in Part 5, means any person who —(a)is a parent or guardian of the child or protected person;(b)has actual custody of the child or protected person; or(c)is liable to contribute to the support of the child or protected person;
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Part 7
Enforcement
Part 8
General Provisions
Part 9