Adoption is a process where you give legal consent for your child to become part of another family on a permanent basis.
A legal adoption:
- ends your responsibilities towards your child
- passes parental rights to the adoptive parents or parent
If you’re considering adoption, an adoption social worker can discuss this with you.
You may consider and decide on adoption at any stage during your pregnancy. You do not need to make a final decision until some months after your baby is born.
Tusla adoption service
If you are considering adoption for your child, a counsellor or GP can put you in contact with your local Tusla adoption service.
For more information visit Tusla.ie or call 01 635 2854.
The adoption social worker will support you to explore:
- your reasons for choosing adoption
- the supports available to you if you choose to raise your baby yourself
- the effect your decision can have on you and your child
- your wishes for your baby’s future family
They will support you through the process of matching your baby with an adoptive family or person. They will continue to support you until the adoption order is made, and after this if needed.
Tusla (the Child and Family Agency)
After the birth
After the birth, you will be encouraged to care for your baby in the hospital. You will then take your baby home for a while or place them in temporary (pre-adoptive) foster care. Tusla will support you to do this.
This will give you time to decide what you want to do. If your baby is in foster care, you can keep in contact with them.
If you decide to go ahead with the adoption, the social worker will:
- help you complete legal forms
- encourage you to be involved in matching your baby with the right family or person
Your baby will then be placed with the prospective adoptive parents or parent. After a few months they will apply to formally adopt your baby.
If you are sure that legal adoption is the right choice for you and your baby, you will sign your final consent to the adoption.
Adoption orders
The adoption order is the legal document that makes the child part of their adoptive family.
It’s normally granted after the baby has been with the adoptive family for at least 6 months.
Social workers will visit the baby in the adoptive home to make sure:
- the baby is being well cared for
- the family and baby are bonding
You can change your mind at any time during the process until you sign your final consent to the adoption.
Consent from both parents
If the father is not the legal guardian of the child, he must be told of the decision to place the child for adoption. If he is not happy with this decision, he must apply to become the legal guardian. This means that his consent is needed before the adoption order can be granted.
If the parents are a married couple, each must give consent to place the child for adoption.
If the father's identity is unknown, the mother must sign a written declaration (affidavit) saying she does not know who the father is.