Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

ADOPTION OF CHILDREN ACT

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

   PART 1 - PRELIMINARY

   1.      Short title
   2.      Commencement
   3.      Interpretation
   4.      Delegation

   PART 2 - JURISDICTION

   5.      Jurisdiction of Local Court
   6.      Cases in which jurisdiction to be exercised
   7.      Rules of private international law not to apply

   PART 3 - ADOPTIONS UNDER THIS ACT

           Division 1 - General

   8.      Welfare and interests of child to be paramount
   9.      Responsibilities of Minister
   10.     Wishes of child
   11.     Adoption of Aboriginal child
   12.     Who may be adopted
   13.     Adoption by couple
   14.     Adoption by one person
   15.     Adoption by spouse of parent, &c.
   16.     Age of adoptive parents

           Division 2 - Application and Assessment

   17.     Application and assessment
   18.     List of persons wishing to adopt a citizen-child
   19.     Persons whose names appear on adoption list of another State
   20.     Minister to have regard to adoption list
   21.     Suitability to adopt non-citizen child

           Division 3 - Review of Decision not to Approve Persons

   22.     Person aggrieved may seek review
   23.     Appointment of panel
   24.     Role of panel
   25.     Minister to review decision

           Division 4 - Consents to Adoptions

   26.     No adoption without consent
   27.     Consents of parents and guardians required
   28.     Birth parent to be given opportunity to consent
   29.     Consent for adoption of non-citizen child
   30.     Person consenting to receive counselling
   31.     Form of consent
   32.     Consents given under law of a State or another Territory
   33.     Revocation of consent
   34.     Defective consents
   35.     Court may dispense with certain consents

           Division 5 - Guardianship of Child Awaiting Adoption

   36.     Guardianship of citizen-child awaiting adoption
   37.     Guardianship of non-citizen child awaiting adoption

           Division 6 - Adoption Orders

   38.     Application for adoption order
   39.     Notice of intention to apply
   40.     Parties 41. Court to be satisfied as to certain matters
   42.     Interim orders
   43.     Care of child after refusal of an application
   44.     Discharge of adoption orders

           Division 7 - Effect of Adoption Orders

   45.     General effect of adoption orders
   46.     Effect of orders as regards dispositions of property, &c.
   47.     Adoption order not to affect the distribution of property by trustees or personal representatives unless notice given
   48.     Names of adopted child

   PART 4 - RECOGNITION OF ADOPTIONS

   49.     Recognition of Australian adoptions
   50.     Recognition of foreign adoptions
   51.     Minister may approve countries for adoption purposes
   52.     Declarations of validity of foreign adoptions
   53.     Supervision of non-citizen child whether or not adoption recognised

   PART 5 - REGISTRATION OF ADOPTIONS, &c.

   54.     Registration of orders
   55.     Registration of overseas birth and adoption order
   56.     Sending of memoranda or order to States and other Territories
   57.     Particulars of orders received from other States

   PART 6 - ACCESS TO INFORMATION

   58.     Definition
   59.     Records of adoption
   60.     Restriction on access to records, &c.
   61.     Person may apply for information
   62.     Minister to provide information
   63.     Counselling
   64.     Release of information in relation to adoption under this Act
   65.     Release of information in relation to adoptions under repealed legislation
   66.     Advice of death of child

   PART 7 - OFFENCES

   67.     Application of Part 68. Taking away, &c., of adopted child by parent or guardian
   69.     Payments in consideration of adoptions, &c.
   70.     Restriction on advertising, &c.
   71.     Restriction on publication of identity of parties
   72.     Secrecy to be observed
   73.     Destruction, &c., of records
   74.     Penalty for making unauthorised arrangements
   75.     False statement in application, &c.
   76.     Personation of person who must consent to adoption
   77.     Witnessing of consent
   78.     Authority to prosecute

   PART 8 - MISCELLANEOUS

   79.     Hearings to be in camera
   80.     Separate representation of child
   81.     Orders as to costs
   82.     Proof of adoption
   83.     Judicial notice of signatures
   84.     Fees for services
   85.     Financial, &c., assistance
   86.     Mediation
   87.     Regulations
   88.     Repeal

           Part 9 - Transitional matters for Adoption of Children Act 1994

   89.     Definitions
   90.     Savings and transitional

           Part 10 - Transitional matters for Adoption of Children Amendment Act 2006

   91.     Application of amendments
           SCHEDULE 1
           SCHEDULE 2
           Endnotes