s 23 Power to make adoption orders
23.—(1) Upon an adoption application in respect of a child, the court may, subject to the provisions of this Act, make an order for the adoption of that child by the applicants jointly or the applicant solely, as the case may be. (2) An adoption order may be made for the adoption of a child by the father or mother of the child, either solely or jointly with his or her spouse. (3) Except as provided in this section, no adoption order may be made for the adoption of a child by more than one individual. (4) An adoption order may be made in respect of a child who has already been the subject of an adoption order (including an adoption order made under the repealed Act) and, upon any application for a further adoption order, the adoptive parents or adoptive parent under the adoption order last previously made are or is, if living, deemed to be the parents or parent (as the case may be) of the child for the purposes of this Act. (5) The court may impose any terms and conditions on an adoption order that the court thinks fit and may, in particular, require the adoptive parents or adoptive parent (as the case may be) by bond or otherwise to make any provision for the child in respect of whom the adoption order is made that in the opinion of the court is just and expedient.