ADOPTION ACT 1984 - SECT 51 Order for adoption of non-citizen child

ADOPTION ACT 1984 - SECT 51

    (1)     The Court shall not make an order for the adoption of a non-citizen child unless the Court is satisfied as to the matters referred to in section 15 and is satisfied—

S. 51(1)(a) amended by No. 46/1998

s. 7(Sch. 1).

        (a)     that the person, or persons, in whose favour the order is made is a person who was, or are persons both of whom were, approved by the Secretary or by an authorized agency as a person, or persons, suitable to adopt a non-citizen child before the child came into or was placed in the care of the person or persons; or

        (b)     that—

              (i)     the child has been in the care of the person, or persons, in whose favour the order is made for the preceding twelve months; and

S. 51(1)(b)(ii) amended by No. 46/1998

s. 7(Sch. 1).

              (ii)     during that period, the Secretary or an authorized agency has supervised the welfare and interests of the child.

S. 51(2) amended by No. 46/1998

s. 7(Sch. 1).

    (2)     Where under this section the Secretary supervises the welfare and interests of a child in the care of a person or persons, the Secretary may require payment by that person or those persons of a fee not exceeding the amount prescribed for the purposes of this section.

S. 51(3) amended by No. 46/1998

s. 7(Sch. 1).

    (3)     In this section, "authorized agency" means an approved agency that is authorized by the Secretary under section 23 to make arrangements with prescribed persons or prescribed organizations in places outside Australia for the adoption in Victoria of non-citizen children.

Part III—Adoption orders under this Act

Division 1—General