PART 4

PART 4
Domestic Adoptions and Intercountry Adoptions

Chapter 1
Adoption Orders and Consents to Adoption Orders

SECTION 19

Welfare of child.

19.— (1) In any matter, application or proceedings under this Act which is, or are, before—

(a) the Authority, or

(b) any court,

the Authority or the court, as the case may be, shall regard the best interests of the child as the paramount consideration in the resolution of such matter, application or proceedings.

(2) In determining for the purposes of subsection (1) what is in the best interests of the child, the Authority or the court, as the case may be, shall have regard to all of the factors or circumstances that it considers relevant to the child who is the subject of the matter, application or proceedings concerned including—

(a) the child]s age and maturity,

(b) the physical, psychological and emotional needs of the child,

(c) the likely effect of adoption on the child,

(d) the child]s views on his or her proposed adoption,

(e) the child]s social, intellectual and educational needs,

(f) the child]s upbringing