Poulter and Anor & Lenton

In the matter of *Poulter and Anor & Lenton*, heard before Murphy J, the applicants sought leave to commence adoption proceedings for a child, C, born in February 2000. The respondents, Lenton, were the parents of the child. The applicants also sought leave to dispense with the necessity for service of the proceedings.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether to grant the applicants leave to commence adoption proceedings, as required by section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975*. This section mandates that leave must be obtained before commencing proceedings for the adoption of a child if certain conditions are met, which were evidently satisfied in this instance. A secondary issue was whether to grant leave to dispense with service of the proceedings on the respondents.

Murphy J granted leave to the applicants to commence adoption proceedings pursuant to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975*. The court also granted leave to the applicants to dispense with the necessity for service of the proceedings.