The Adoption and Children Act (2002, UK)

The Adoption and Children Act 2002 is UK legislation that modernized adoption processes to better protect children's rights and welfare. It emphasizes the need for children's needs and views to be prioritized in adoption decisions. The Act allows same-sex couples to adopt, making the process more inclusive. It also introduced "special guardianship" arrangements, providing stability for children who cannot live with their birth parents but do not require full adoption. Overall, the Act aims to improve the adoption system to ensure that all children find safe, loving, and permanent homes.