Beard and Coates

In the matter of *Beard and Coates*, heard by O’Reilly J, the application concerned Mr Beard's request for leave to commence proceedings for the adoption of a child, H. The proceedings were initiated by an application filed on 10 February 2010, which was subsequently amended by a further application filed on 9 March 2010.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether Mr Beard should be granted leave to commence adoption proceedings pursuant to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). This section governs the circumstances under which proceedings for adoption can be commenced.

O’Reilly J determined that leave should be granted. The court ordered that the application filed on 10 February 2010 be treated as an initiating application and the amended application filed on 9 March 2010 be treated as an amended initiating application. Crucially, pursuant to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), Mr Beard was granted leave to commence proceedings for the adoption of H.