Asked by: Richard Quigley (Labour - Isle of Wight West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take legislative steps to allow people over 18 to be formally adopted by their families.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The adoption of a child is about ensuring that a child has a permanent family, with the adopter taking legal and parental responsibility for them. At the age of 18, parental responsibility is no longer relevant, as an adult assumes responsibility for themselves. Introducing adoption for over 18s is not a priority as there is no legal imperative to introduce adult adoption. Legal processes, such as the making of a will, already enable individuals to pass on inheritance or financial rights without adoption being necessary. Similarly, the ability to legally change names through deed poll means that adoption is not the only way to share a family name.