Mr & Mrs T v IM & Ors

Mr & Mrs T v IM & Ors

The court found that all statutory requirements for adoption were satisfied, including domicile, consent, and assessment in a home environment. There was no breach of s92 as the adoption process was overseen by the courts and authorities in Sierra Leone, and the child was already in an orphanage before the applicants' involvement. Adoption was found to be in the best interests of the child, and no lesser order would suffice.

Parties
Applicants: Mr. and Mrs. T; 1st Respondent: IM; 2nd Respondent: London Borough of Islington; 3rd Respondent: D (through their children’s guardian, Lauren Doyle)
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
16 June 2025
Procedural Posture
Adoption Application / Judgment on Final Adoption Order
Outcome
Adoption order granted
Legal Topics
International Adoption, Recognition of Foreign Adoption Orders, Statutory Requirements for Adoption, Consent of Birth Parents, Assessment Process for Adoption, Welfare of the Child
Family Law Adoption Law International Adoption Recognition of Foreign Adoption Orders Statutory Requirements for Adoption Consent of Birth Parents Assessment Process for Adoption Welfare of the Child

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Parties

Mr. and Mrs. T

Applicants

IM

1st Respondent

London Borough of Islington

2nd Respondent

D (through their children’s guardian, Lauren Doyle)

3rd Respondent

Procedural Posture

Adoption Application / Judgment on Final Adoption Order

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the statutory requirements for adoption under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 are met
  2. 2 Whether the assessment process satisfies s42(7)(b) of the Act
  3. 3 Whether there was any breach of s92 regarding restrictions on arranging adoptions

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that all statutory requirements for adoption were satisfied, including domicile, consent, and assessment in a home environment. There was no breach of s92 as the adoption process was overseen by the courts and authorities in Sierra Leone, and the child was already in an orphanage before the applicants' involvement. Adoption was found to be in the best interests of the child, and no lesser order would suffice.

Court Disposition

Adoption order granted

Orders

  • The applicants are granted an adoption order in respect of D.
  • Contact between D and his birth family to continue via WhatsApp and other social media as determined by the applicants.