Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts41. Court to be satisfied as to certain matters
(1) The Court shall not make an order for the adoption of a child unless it has received a report in writing from the Minister concerning the proposed adoption and, after considering the report and any other evidence before the Court, it is satisfied that -
(a) the welfare and interests of the child will be promoted by the adoption;
(b) the applicant or applicants are suitable to adopt the child and satisfy the requirements of the Act; and
(c) the Minister has ascertained and taken into account the wishes, if any, of a parent of the child, including wishes in respect of arrangements between the parent or parents and any prospective adoptive parent or adoptive parents in respect of access to the child by, or the giving and receiving of information about the child to, the first-mentioned parent or parents.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to an order for the adoption of a child who has attained the age of 18 years before the making of the order, but the Court shall not make an order for the adoption of such a child unless it is satisfied -
(a) that the applicant or applicants are suitable to adopt the child and satisfy the requirements of the Act; and
(b) that exceptional circumstances make it desirable that the child should be adopted.