The Adoption of Agnes (a pseudonym) [2024] NSWSC 934

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Adoption of Agnes (a pseudonym) [2024] NSWSC 934 Hearing dates: On the papers Date of orders: 1 August 2024 Decision date: 01 August 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity - Adoptions List Before: Stevenson J Decision: Adoption orders to be made; declaration of parentage orders to be made Catchwords: CHILD WELFARE – adoption – whether declaration of parentage should be made – whether adoption order should be made – whether adoption is in the best interests of the child – whether dispensing with the consent of the birth parents to the adoption would promote child's welfare – whether proposed adoption plans are in the best interests of the child – whether proposed name change would be in the best interests of the child Legislation Cited: Adoption Act 2000 (NSW) Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (NSW) Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) Status of Children Act 1996 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adoption of RCC and RZA [2015] NSWSC 813 In the adoption of Natalie [2021] NSWSC 254 Principal Officer, Family Spirit Adoption Services v D (ANONYMISED) [2022] NSWSC 142 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Secretary, New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice (Plaintiff) "Helen" (a pseudonym) (Defendant) Representation: Solicitors: Crown Solicitor's Office (Plaintiff) Legal Aid NSW (duty basis) (Defendant) File Number(s): 2024/8446 Publication restriction: This judgment has been anonymised pursuant to s 180 of the Adoption Act 2000 (NSW)