The Adoption of Thomas (a pseudonym) and Georgia (a pseudonym) [2024] NSWSC 1023

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Adoption of Thomas (a pseudonym) and Georgia (a pseudonym) [2024] NSWSC 1023 Hearing dates: 30 July 2024 Date of orders: 30 July 2024 Decision date: 15 August 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity - Adoptions List Before: Stevenson J Decision: Declaration of parentage and adoption orders made. Catchwords: CHILD WELFARE – adoption – adoption plan –where it is in the children's best interests for declaration of parentage and adoption orders to be made – where applicant seeks registration of adoption plans providing for means and nature of contact with birth family post-adoption – where children's treating expert recommends a staged approach to contact with birth parents post-adoption – where birth parents seek increased contact beyond what is proposed in adoption plans – whether adoption plans are in the children's best interests and proper in all the circumstances 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 BS (No 3) [2013] NSWSC 2033 Adoption of RCC and RZA [2015] NSWSC 813 Adoption of Taylor-Clay [2019] NSWSC 27 Principal Officer, Family Spirit Adoption Services v D (ANONYMISED) [2022] NSWSC 142 Re Peter [2009] NSWSC 697 Re the Adoption of AJH [2017] NSWSC 1751 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice (Applicant) "Tim" (a pseudonym) (First Defendant) "Belinda" (a pseudonym) (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R D Turnbull (Applicant) K Fitzgerald (Second Defendant)