Version No. 077
Adoption Act 1984
No. 10150 of 1984
Version incorporating amendments as at
9 September 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
Part I—Preliminary
1Short title
2Commencement
3Repeals, savings and transitional provisions
4Definitions
5Approved counsellors
6The Court
7Jurisdiction
8Rules of private international law not to apply
9Welfare and interests of child to be paramount
Part II—Adoptions under this Act
Division 1—General
10Who may be adopted
10AApplication for adoption order
11Persons in whose favour adoption orders may be made
12Orders in favour of relatives
13Approval of persons to adopt children
13ARegister of approved persons
14Wishes of child
15Court to be satisfied as to certain matters
16Notice of application for adoption orders
17Parties
18Custody etc. after refusal of an application for an adoption order
19Discharge of adoption orders
Division 2—Arrangement of adoptions
20Adoptions may be arranged by Secretary or by approved agency
20ADeterminations by Secretary or approved agency
21Application for approval of adoption agency
22Secretary may grant or refuse application
23Authorized agencies—non-citizen children
24Revocation or suspension of approval
25Period of approval of agency
26Renewal of approval
27Effect of cessation or suspension of approved agency
28Effect of revocation or suspension of authority under section 23
29Ending of suspension of approval or authority
30Notice of approval to be published in Government Gazette
31Acts of principal officer deemed acts of approved agency
32Duties of Secretary and approved agencies
Division 3—Consents to adoptions
33Consents required to adoptions
34Manner of giving consent
35Requirements to be complied with
36Consent by guardian under section 33(6)
37Consent subject to conditions
38Revocation of consent on notice of inability to place child
39Consents to be construed as general consents
40Consents given under law of another State or a Territory
41Revocation of consents
42Defective consents
43Court may dispense with consents
44Person who gives consent to be given notice of certain events
Division 4—Care of child
45Care of child awaiting adoption
46Guardianship of child awaiting adoption
47Guardianship of non-citizen child
48Natural parent's right of access after consent
Division 5—Court to be satisfied as to certain additional matters
49Putative father
50Adoption of Aboriginal child
51Order for adoption of non-citizen child
Part III—Adoption orders under this Act
Division 1—General
52Certificate of adoption
Division 2—Effect of adoption orders
53General effect of adoption orders
54Effect of orders as regards dispositions of property etc.
55Bequest by will to unascertained adopted person
56Names of adopted child
57Effect of order on domicile
58Adoption order not to affect the distribution of property by trustees or personal representatives unless notice given
Division 3—Adoption orders subject to conditions
59Certain adoption orders subject to condition
59AAdoption order subject to certain conditions
60Variation of orders and conditions
61Cessation of condition
Division 4—Interim orders
62Making of interim orders
63Duration of interim orders
64Discharge of interim orders
Part IV—Recognition of adoptions
65Application of Part
66Recognition of Australasian adoptions
67Recognition of foreign adoptions
68Supervision of certain adopted children
69Declarations of validity of foreign adoptions
Part IVA—Adoptions under the Hague Convention
Division 1—Court orders and recognition of adoptions
69AAdoption of child in Victoria who is to live in a…