§ 26 — Consent of relevant persons

26.—(1) The court must not make an adoption order in respect of any child unless the consent of every relevant person for the adoption of the child has either been validly obtained or dispensed with by the court.(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the consent of a relevant person for the adoption of a child is not validly obtained unless the consent is —(a)

given only after such information and documents as are prescribed by the regulations have been provided to the relevant person;

(b)

in writing and in the form prescribed by the regulations;

(c)

witnessed by 2 witnesses present at the same time, each of whom must have attained 21 years of age;

(d)

obtained in accordance with any other procedural requirements prescribed by the regulations; and

(e)

attested by a solicitor, a commissioner for oaths, a notary public or any person for the time being authorised by law in the place where the document is executed to administer oaths.

—(1) The court must not make an adoption order in respect of any child unless the consent of every relevant person for the adoption of the child has either been validly obtained or dispensed with by the court.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the consent of a relevant person for the adoption of a child is not validly obtained unless the consent is —(a)

given only after such information and documents as are prescribed by the regulations have been provided to the relevant person;

(b)

in writing and in the form prescribed by the regulations;

(c)

witnessed by 2 witnesses present at the same time, each of whom must have attained 21 years of age;

(d)

obtained in accordance with any other procedural requirements prescribed by the regulations; and

(e)

attested by a solicitor, a commissioner for oaths, a notary public or any person for the time being authorised by law in the place where the document is executed to administer oaths.