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    Domestic Adoption
    Domestic adoption refers to the situation where a child who is resident in Ireland is adopted by a person or couple who is/are also resident in Ireland. The nature and effect of an Irish adoption order is that the child becomes the child of the adopter(s) as if born to them, with all the rights and duties of parent(s) and children in relation to each other. Please note that Irish adoption legislation only allows for the adoption of a child. A child is defined as a person who has not yet reached eighteen years of age. It is not possible for a person eighteen years of age or older to be adopted in Ireland. There are four different types of domestic adoption – stepfamily, extended family/relative adoption, domestic infant adoption and long term foster care to adoption.
    In order to begin the adoption process, you will need to get in touch with your local adoption office of Tusla - The Child and Family Agency. The contact details for the local offices can be found here

    STEP PARENT ADOPTION


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    Stepfamily in the context of adoption generally refers to families formed when the birth mother of a child marries/cohabits with a man who is not the birth father of that child and the child is living with this  couple, or in a small number of cases where the child is living with the birth father whose wife/partner wishes to adopt the child.

     

    EXTENDED FAMILY / RELATIVE ADOPTION

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    Extended family/relative adoption specifically refers to a member of the child’s extended family who, alone or together with a spouse/partner, wants to adopt the child; the child is living with the prospective adopter(s) and the child has been placed directly with this relative by the birth mother or indirectly through the State child care system.

    DOMESTIC INFANT ADOPTION

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    Domestic infant adoption is essentially the process whereby a child is placed with an alternative set of parents. All legal rights, responsibilities and duties are transferred to the new parents and the birth parents relinquish all their legal rights and duties in relation to the child. 

     

     

    LONG TERM FOSTER CARE TO ADOPTION

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    Long term fostercare to adoption - This type of adoption occurs where a child has been placed with a couple initially in a foster care situation because the birth mother/parents are unsure of what decision they wish to make about caring for the child themselves or allowing the child to be adopted. 

     

    About Us

    The Domestic Adoption Unit processes applications for Declarations of Eligibility and Suitability (a requirement for all applicants for adoption) and applications for Adoption Orders. The unit also maintains the Birth Father Register

     

    Domestic adoption refers to the situation where a child who is resident in Ireland is adopted by a person or couple also resident in Ireland. The nature and effect of an Irish adoption order is that the child becomes the child of the adopter(s), and all rights and responsibilities are transferred from the birth parents to the adoptive parent(s).

    Please note that Irish adoption legislation only allows for the adoption of a child. A child is defined as a person who has not yet reached eighteen years of age. It is not possible for a person eighteen years of age or older to be adopted in Ireland.

    There may be a number of terms or expressions used in this website which are unfamiliar to you. To assist we have produced a glossary which explains the most frequently used ones. Please click here

    Contact details

    Domestic Adoption Unit 
    Adoption Authority of Ireland
    3rd Floor, Shelbourne House
    Shelbourne Road
    Ballsbridge
    Dublin 4
    D04 H6F6

    Telephone +353 1 2309 300
    Email: domestic@aai.gov.ie

    Mission Statement

    " To ensure the provision of the highest possible standards of adoption related services, throughout the lifelong adoption process, with the best interests of children as the first and paramount objective."