International Adoption
Leading International Adoption Lawyers
Our International Adoption Lawyers advise clients who wish to adopt a child from another country. Clients include British families living in UK, ex-pat families who have adopted a child whilst living abroad now wish to return to the UK and foreign national living in the UK.
“Naomi is very knowledgeable on adoption and surrogacy. She is solution-focused and open to ideas.”
“Naomi Angell is the fount of all knowledge on adoption and surrogacy cases. She is a lawyer to whom judges defer.”
International adoption means bringing a child from another country into your family. This could be a child without parents or one living in an orphanage. More often, it involves adopting a relative’s child when you, your partner or the child were born outside the UK.
Because international adoption crosses borders, the process can be more complex than domestic adoptions. Our adoption lawyers are on hand to help you successfully expand your family and keep children within their extended birth family.
What is international adoption?
International adoption is a detailed process that requires thorough checks by both the authorities in the child’s home country and those in the UK. This is to make sure the adoptive parents can provide a safe, supportive and financially secure home.
In the UK, international adoption is covered by several laws, including:
There are rules about who can adopt, but no one can be refused purely because of their age, sexuality, disability, race, religion, marital status or job status. Other countries may have very different requirements. As a first step, our solicitors can explain the rules relevant to your specific situation.
Applications to adopt from overseas can be made through a UK adoption agency or an international one. After that, the process depends on the type of adoption and where the child is located.
If you are thinking about adopting internationally, it’s essential to get advice from a family solicitor that specialises in cross-border adoptions. Our team is led by Naomi Angell, one of the UK’s top experts in adoption law. She is recognised in Chambers UK as a ‘Senior Statesperson’ for her expertise in adoption and children law, and has won multiple awards for leading on major policy changes. With Naomi guiding the team, you have the reassurance of advice shaped by many years of hands-on experience in complex international cases.
Types of international adoption
Hague Convention adoption
The Hague Convention is an international agreement made in 1993 to protect children in inter-country adoptions. If you adopt a child through this process, your adoption is recognised in all countries that follow the Convention, so you won’t need to go through separate adoption procedures in both countries.
You, your family and the child will be assessed by an adoption agency in line with the Convention’s procedures. There are other legal processes to follow, including getting the consent of the birth parents.
Adopting under the Hague Convention usually means the child obtains British nationality.
Adoption from non-Hague Convention countries
If you adopt a child from a country that isn’t part of the Hague Convention, or if you don’t follow the Convention’s process, your adoption may still be recognised in the UK. There is a government list of countries whose adoptions are automatically accepted here.
However, even if the adoption is recognised, this doesn’t mean the child automatically becomes a British citizen. There are strict rules about bringing adopted children into the UK, so it is vital to speak to both family and immigration law experts.
Other international adoptions
If your situation doesn’t fit into the above types, you might have to get adoption orders in both the child’s home country and in the UK. These cases are especially complicated, so specialist legal advice is always recommended.
Our international adoption services
International adoption is a complex and highly specialist area of law. We support families at every stage of the process, and have close relationships with specialist immigration solicitors to make sure every legal step is handled smoothly and without unnecessary delays.
Our clients include British families living here, ex-patriot British nationals wishing to return to the UK with their adopted child, and foreign nationals living in the UK and wishing to adopt internationally while they are here.
Our services include:
- Guidance for families thinking about adopting from abroad and bringing their child to live in the UK.
- Advice on the assessment process, including appeals against negative decisions.
- Representing adoptive parents in court proceedings in the UK.
- Support with re-adoptions where the overseas adoption is not recognised.
- Advice for anyone taking a child from the UK for adoption in another country, whether through local authority care or private family arrangements.
- Support for relatives of a child living overseas who has been abandoned, orphaned or offered for adoption in the UK, including cases involving complex immigration matters.
- Advice for step-parents who want to adopt their foreign-national partner’s child and secure British citizenship for them.
How we can help
Our adoption lawyers have developed useful relationships with specialist immigration solicitors and counsel and work closely with them in these children’s cases where immigration issues also need to be addressed. Naomi Angell also lectures to immigration lawyers on international family law issues.
To speak to a member of the team please:
- Call us on 020 7485 8811, or
- Fill in the online form below.
International Adoption FAQs
Can I adopt a child who lives abroad?
You may be able to adopt a child from another country if:
They cannot be looked after safely in their home country. Adoption is in the child’s best interests. An adoption agency has assessed you and confirmed you are eligible and suitable to adopt from overseas.Do I have to be British to adopt a child overseas?
No – but you or your partner must have a permanent home in the UK and must have lived here for at least one year before applying.
What countries allow international adoption?
Many do, but some will not allow children to be adopted abroad. The UK also restricts adoption from some countries because of concerns about unsafe practices or lack of consent. Current restricted countries include Nigeria, Cambodia, Guatemala, Nepal and Ethiopia.
If you wish to adopt from a restricted country, you will need special approval that we can help you obtain.
How long does international adoption take?
It is more complicated and therefore slower than domestic adoption. While UK adoptions often take around six months, overseas adoptions vary depending on both countries’ processes. For Hague Convention cases, you first get approval from a UK agency, then from the UK Central Authority, and finally from the child’s country. This obviously takes time.
You may need court proceedings in both places plus immigration clearance before the child can come to the UK.
Do I need an international adoption lawyer?
If you are thinking about adopting from abroad, working with a specialist adoption lawyer can help make the process easier and ensure it meets both UK and international legal requirements.
Our family law team is accredited by Resolution. We work closely with adoption charities and have strong experience in cross-border cases. We also work alongside immigration experts to deal with the immigration aspects of adoption.
We are happy to chat through your plans and answer any questions you have, no matter what stage you are at in the process.
Maria takes a child-focused approach to cases. She is good at grasping how a child might feel in a situation and this makes her stand out as excellent in her field.
Jonathan is thorough, intelligent, hard-working and committed. He knows the law very well and is committed to the rights of children.
Bridget has a phenomenal reputation, is a very good lawyer and one of the stars in children work.
Osbornes offers a high level of client care and manages client expectations realistically.
They have a strong team, are heavyweights in this space and are very well respected in the courts.
Simone McGrath is an excellent international children lawyer.
Naomi is very knowledgeable on adoption and surrogacy. She is solution-focused and open to ideas.
I have found the team at Osbornes works very well together to diligently produce a quality end result. Client service has been excellent and I feel like I am in safe hands.
I consider them a go-to for conciliatory work on the children side.
Osbornes is a power house of a family firm. They are robust but realistic and client focused.
Osbornes has lawyers with excellent experience.
Osbornes is a hugely impressive firm that offers strength and depth to its clients.
Yael Selig is bilingual in Spanish and English. She is the go-to person for divorce cases involving Gibraltar particularly, or Spain.
Yael Selig regularly supports clients in cross jurisdictional UK–Spanish matters.
Bridget Thompson handles child inclusive mediations.
Lisa pepper heads the Mediation team and she is often mediating for high-net-worth individuals in both financial and private children matters.
Simone McGrath has an incredible knowledge of international cases. She has been involved in many leading cases and is a go-to lawyer in the field.
The family law team at Osbornes is one of the strongest in London.
Maria Kitsiou heads up the domestic children offering.
Lauren Hall leads the international children team.
The firm’s alternative parenting team is headed up by Naomi Angell, handling domestic and international adoption, surrogacy, and fertility issues.
Osbornes‘ family team is headed up by Mark Freedman, a mediator and fighter who will get the job done on both complex financial matters and international children cases.
A market leader across public law, international cases, financial and children work.
The team is experienced in handling matters where there are allegations of abuse and non-accidental injury, as well as situations where children's welfare is at risk due to parents' substance misuse or mental health issues.
The lawyers at Osbornes are very well established and have a lot of experience between them, which gives them a lot of confidence and a willingness to think out of the box.
Their client care is really impressive and they have such breadth of experience
In a long standing issue with my ex and our child, Lisa and her team have always given me advice that has been first class. Lisa has a deep knowledge of how the courts work and which arguments will work and which will not and will advice exactly what to do and when.
My solicitor Jon Jonas came across as a genuine, very skilled solicitor who demonstrated great insights and experience in complex child arrangement cases. He has been able to create and implement an effective strategy to deal with extremely toxic matters.
Naomi Angell has considerable strength in adoption, surrogacy and fertility issues
Bridget Thompson is a public law specialist noted for her extensive children public law practice.
Naomi Angell is a renowned practitioner in the market with a wealth of experience in family cases involving immigration issues. She has a depth of knowledge in surrogacy issues and is respected for her experience handling adoption matters.
"She is responsive and very knowledgeable – she knows everything on the family law side of adoption and is also very generous with her time."
"Naomi is second to none in her knowledge of adoption and her work in surrogacy is also a strength."
"She has an encyclopaedic knowledge and an in-depth understanding of this work. She's extremely empathetic and can put herself in the client's shoes. She's also very strategic and is good at pre-empting litigation."
"Their family department is very strong, from adoption to child abduction and matrimonial finance, this is a very strong team."
"Naomi Angell is a stand out individual who is well regarded as to the go-to lawyer in her field. What Naomi doesn’t know about adoption is not worth knowing."
"David Leadercrammer is such an experienced wonderful lawyer who you would want on the other side of your case. He’s sensible, pragmatic and hugely experienced in money and children cases."
"A doyenne of family law in international children work. She is phenomenal, and lives and breathes this work. There's nothing she doesn't know."
"She is the queen of inter-country adoption. She is experienced in the field over a long period of time. She has wonderful client skills and is committed to getting proper outcomes."
"She is an adoption superstar. She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of immigration law, and knows what's on the horizon due to her involvement in policy."
Simone McGrath – Exceptional knowledge of international children matters, particularly 1980 Hague Convention cases. Fights hard for her clients.
Naomi Angell – the doyenne of adoption and surrogacy family law, dedicated to her clients and hardworking.
The team has considerable strength in adoption, surrogacy and fertility matters through Naomi Angell.
"Highly recommended
Bridget and Amy-Jo were very supportive during what were very stressful proceedings. They were collaborative and I felt listened to and part of a team rather than just a client. We ended up being successful at the hearing."I received an outstanding service from Osbornes Law in relation to the processing of a complicated overseas Will. The service provided by Suzanna Baker and Jan Atkinson was very professional, their communication was clear and concise, and I felt that they did all they could to ensure as smooth a progression through probate as could be expected. I would 100% recommend this law firm.
Jan Atkinson has extensive experience in private client matters, which underpins her excellent skills in the contentious probate area. Plus she is strong on international matters.
"Bridget Thompson combines her excellent legal knowledge with a clear, succinct and robust style of advice and advocacy. Her approach clearly inspires a high degree of client confidence in her"
"She's extremely knowledgeable and highly professional."
"She is the guru when it comes to international adoption and she's an expert in her field."
"She is excellent. She's very reliable, talks about her cases passionately and is very committed to her clients."
"I consider the firm to be very experienced in child care cases and to provide a very professional and high standard of work"
Naomi Angell has a vast wealth of knowledge and experience.
Bridget Thompson is a public law specialist noted for her extensive practice in matters involving alternative families and adoption. An interviewee observes: "She's a fighter, she's clever, and she understands all aspects of a case."
"Naomi Angell is a highly esteemed practitioner who is highlighted as "a leader in the field" and "extremely knowledgeable" by interviewees. She is particularly recognised for her experience in complex adoption disputes."
"Naomi Angell is a leading name in international adoption."
"An exceptional outfit. They take on difficult cases, fight hard and win."
"They are an outstanding firm to work with. They are consistently impressive in their work."
"The team frequently deals with cross-border estates for high–net-worth individuals."
"Osbornes feels like a local firm but with a Big City reach."
"Well-regarded family practice assisting clients with substantial matrimonial disputes and sensitive children proceedings."
"Simone is absolutely on top of the game. She has great attention to detail, and has her clients' needs at heart."
"Bridget is client-focused, a pleasure to work with and incredibly supportive to her clients."
"Recognised for its expertise in both domestic and international adoption, as well as assisted conception."
"Naomi Angell is a leading figure in domestic and inter-country adoptions, and also has expert knowledge of related fertility and surrogacy issues."
"Naomi Angell is phenomenal. She's done it for so long and knows so much that she's a fount of knowledge. If Naomi doesn't know something, it isn't worth knowing."
"Mark Freedman draws acclaim for his work in high net worth divorce cases, including those involving company structures, family trusts and overseas assets."
Bridget Thompson heads the family team, where client care is the top priority.
Simone McGrath is a highly knowledgeable practitioner with a focus on international child abduction matters. She has a large expertise in public and private law.
Naomi Angell is the doyenne of inter-country adoption and the font of all knowledge in this area.
Highly respected for her [Naomi Angell] focused on cross-border children work, including surrogacy matters.
Simone McGrath handles international child abduction cases and challenging care proceedings relating to non-accidental injuries.
Naomi Angell advises on international adoptions and complex surrogacy matters. She is commended for her broad, in-depth experience."
[The Family Law department] handles significant matrimonial finance cases and complex nuptial agreements. Respected for its expertise in cross-border children law matters.
Naomi Angell is an expert in adoption issues.
This team is perhaps best known for its children work, often involving complex international dynamics.
Naomi Angell leads the market in cross-border children law matters. Sources confirm that she is "at the cutting edge of changing law and policy" when it comes to international adoption
Naomi Angell is described as hugely experienced, calm and a good listener.
Osbornes handles a growing stable of wealthy international clients. The firm receives glowing plaudits from clients.
"Mark Freedman receives a lot of instructions from clients based abroad, often relating to complex divorce proceedings. Sources say: “His main strengths are his enthusiastic passion for the job in hand and his total dedication to his clients.”
News and Insights from our Adoption LawyersVIEW ALL
21.5.2025Surrogacy Law for Older Parents
International surrogacy, older parents and future implications for a child At Osbornes Law, the family team specialises in both international...
Read more- 17.4.2025
The Risks of International Surrogacy: A Cautionary Message
The risks of international surrogacy and the importance of getting legal advice At Osbornes Law, the family solicitors are specialists...
Read more - 23.1.2025
Post-Adoption Contact With Birth Parent: Not If Adopters...
Post-Adoption Contact With Birth Parent It is not uncommon for a birth parent to seek direct contact with an adopted...
Read more - 23.1.2025
A High Bar For Challenging Adoption Orders
Challenging adoption orders Adoption orders bring considerable implications for all the parties and judges do not make such orders lightly....
Read more - 12.9.2024
Landmark Decision: A Surrogate Mother’s Rights Are...
In the world of surrogacy, legal rights and parental responsibilities can be a complicated issue. Non-profit surrogacy is legal in...
Read more - 17.11.2023
Public Law Working Group Interim Report on Adoption...
Time for change? A recent interim report has been published by the Public Law Working Group Adoption Sub-Group (‘the Group’)...
Read more 
7.3.2023What is legal parenthood and how is it...
This issue was in the news recently, when a married Oklahoma same-sex couple were in court over a dispute about...
Read more
31.8.2022What if my partner predeceases me before we...
A review of a recent case concerning consent during fertility treatment. When going through fertility treatment as a couple, it...
Read more
31.8.2022Declaration of parentage after mistake at register office
Recently in the news has been the outcome of the case of Osborne & Anor v Cambridgeshire County Council [2022] EWHC 1982 (...
Read more- 2.8.2022
New strategy to make fertility treatment more accessible
In July 2022, the Department of Health for England released its strategy aimed at improving Women’s Health. While women represent 51%...
Read more - 5.7.2022
Proposed Changes to Gamete Donor Anonymity Laws in...
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has proposed changes to the law surrounding gamete donor anonymity in the UK....
Read more - 18.11.2021
Legal considerations in the surrogacy process
What Are My Surrogacy Options at Home and Abroad? When you’re considering surrogacy as an intended parent, you may...
Read more - 20.10.2021
Birth parent fails to overturn adoption order
Most adoption applications go through smoothly and it is only in the minority of cases that birth parents seek to...
Read more - 21.9.2021
Changes in Fertility Law Benefit Families
Following campaigning by those working in the fertility sector and public consultation in 2020, the Government announced on 6th September 2021 that...
Read more - 25.3.2019
Unlicensed fertility treatment and paternity – new clarification in...
The issue in contention was whether it could be ruled that Mr H, the now ex-husband of the child in...
Read more - 25.3.2019
Russian Adoptions
Adopting a baby from Russia can give a chance of a family to a child who would otherwise spend their...
Read more - 26.2.2018
Thai Case Shines The Light on International Surrogacy
This week, a story reported by the Telegraph raises some interesting questions about international surrogacy. The reporting states that a 28...
Read more
Accreditations
Our Family Lawyers View the whole team
Claire Andrews
Partner
Family LawMark Freedman
Partner
Family LawJonathan Jonas
Partner
Family LawMaria Kitsiou
Partner
Family LawLisa Pepper
Partner
Family LawYael Selig
Partner
Family LawAndrew Watson
Partner
Family LawJoanne Wescott
Managing Partner
Family LawNaomi Angell
Consultant
Family LawDiana Bastow
Senior Associate
Family LawView the
whole team
