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Closed Change the legal adoption age to allow adults to be adopted past age 18

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Currently a person in the UK can only be adopted up until the age they turn 18, meaning past this age it is not possible for someone, such as a step parent, to be recognised in law as a parent. This can have implications in later life.

I am proposing that the UK Government review this legislation, and make a change allowing any person to be adopted at any time, no matter their age. Some people are unaware of this law until it is too late, and once past 18 there is no alternative to adoption. Many other countries worldwide allow adoption at any age, including the US and Japan. We believe this law is in drastic need of reform, in particular to ensure that step children and step parents can be recognised in law, no matter the age of the step child.

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    This petition will stay open until 9 November 2023.