Children born within marriage may be adopted under this provision. A child born to a married woman but whose husband is not the father, is eligible for adoption provided the facts of the child's paternity can be proven to the satisfaction of the Adoption Board. The child must reside in the State, be at least six weeks old and under 18 years of age. The child need not have been born in this country. An agency cannot place a child for adoption until the child is at least four weeks old.
Adoption is for the benefit of children.
The child is the most important person in the whole process. This principle is embodied in the law, which requires the Adoption Board or any Court, when dealing with any matter relating to an adoption, to regard the welfare of the child as the first and paramount consideration. The Adoption Board must take into account the wishes of a child who is more than seven years of age at the date of an application for an adoption order. It is not possible for two unmarried persons to adopt jointly. A couple adopting a child to whom they are not related must both be at least 21 years of age.