Eleanor Battie wrote an article entitled “Care Proceedings: Who is Best Placed to Provide Best Evidence?” for the Family Law Week website. Below is a snippet of what Eleanor discusses and you can read the full article here.

It is repeatedly recognised within the family courts that placing a child for adoption, without the parents’ consent, is the most draconian of orders a court can make.

Such an order will have profound consequences on parent and, most importantly, child, for the rest of his or her life. It will sever the relationship with the birth parents and wider family for at least the duration of childhood and likely considerably longer. Therefore, it is vital that the courts are presented with the best possible evidence upon which to make the decision. This has been highlighted often and is clear from the Supreme Court case of Re B (A Child) [2013] UKSC 33 in which it was emphasised that the severance of family ties inherent in an adoption without parental consent is an extreme step and one that requires the highest level of evidence.