The Adoption of Sophie (a pseudonym) [2023] NSWSC 1403

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Adoption of Sophie (a pseudonym) [2023] NSWSC 1403 Hearing dates: On the papers Date of orders: 15 November 2023 Decision date: 17 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity - Adoptions List Before: Stevenson J Decision: Order made pursuant to Regulation 20 of the Family Law (Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption) Regulations 1998 (Cth) terminating the legal relationship between the pre-adoption parents of the child and the child Catchwords: CHILD WELFARE – adoption – intercountry adoption – child adopted in Rwanda – where that adoption recognised in Australia – where adoption in Rwanda did not have effect of terminating legal relationship between adopted child and her pre-adoption parents – where order sought under Family Law (Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption) Regulations 1998 (Cth) terminating that legal relationship Legislation Cited: Adoption Act 2000 (NSW) Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth) Family Law (Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption) Regulations 1998 (Cth) Governing Persons and Family (Rwanda) Law No 32/2016 of 28/08/2016 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption Cases Cited: Adoption of BW [2017] NSWSC 174 LK v Director-General, Department of Community Services (2009) 237 CLR 582; [2009] HCA 9 Re S and the Adoption Act 2000 (NSW) (No 2) (2006) 68 NSWLR 467; [2006] NSWSC 1438 Category: Principal judgment Parties: "Jane Smith" (a pseudonym) (Plaintiff) Secretary, New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice (Intervener) Representation: Counsel: B Lim (Plaintiff)