Section 25 — Service of adoption application

(1)The court must not make an adoption order on any adoption application unless a copy each of the adoption application and the affidavit filed in support of the application are served on every relevant person of the child before the court no later than the time prescribed by the Family Justice Rules.

(2)Without affecting subsection (1), the court must not make an adoption order on any adoption application unless a copy each of the adoption application and the affidavit filed in support of the application are served on —

(a)the Guardian-in-Adoption; and

(b)if the child before the court is a child in state care — the Director‑General, no later than the time prescribed by the Family Justice Rules.

(3)Despite subsection (1), the court may dispense with the service required on any relevant person of the child before the court.

(4)The court may order a copy of the adoption application and its supporting affidavit to be served on any person not mentioned in subsections (1) and (2).