Brucedale and Anor and Vaulks

In the matter of *Brucedale and Anor and Vaulks*, Gill J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application for leave to commence adoption proceedings. The applicants, Mr Bernati and another party (referred to as "Anor"), sought to adopt two children, X and Y, born in 2009 and 2007 respectively. Mr Bernati is the step-parent of X and Y.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether to grant leave pursuant to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) for the adoption proceedings to commence. Section 60G governs the circumstances in which a person may apply for an adoption order, particularly where the applicant is not a parent of the child.

Gill J granted leave to Mr Bernati, a prescribed adopting parent and step-parent of the children, to commence proceedings for the adoption of X and Y. The Court's decision was based on the specific provisions of section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), which permits such applications under certain conditions. The order was made subject to its formal entry into the Court's records.