Adoption by Relatives
Leading International Adoption Solicitors
If you are a relative of a child you wish to adopt, please contact our specialist adoption lawyers. We will explain the process and the options open to you. Our lawyers specialise in intercountry adoption, in particular in situations where the child and relatives reside in different countries.
“Their family department is very strong, from adoption to child abduction and matrimonial finance, this is a very strong team.”
“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.”
Placing children permanently with relatives is generally recognised as the next best option if a child cannot be cared for by birth parents.
There are a range of possible orders that can be made, including adoption and special guardianship orders.
The need to find a permanent home for a child may arise from care proceedings or as a result of family breakdown, where the local authority may not be involved. We help our clients to weigh up what will be best for the individual child, taking into account factors such as:
- Future contact that the child will have with birth parents and siblings or
- Whether it is important for a child to retain their legal relationship with birth parents.
With our experience and expertise in International Adoption, we also advise and represent relatives offering a permanent home to a child living abroad, who might have been orphaned or abandoned or who has been gifted to them by family members in other countries. In these cases we work closely with specialist immigration lawyers in providing the full range of advice and representation that is needed what are often these most complex cases.
If you are the relative of a child whom you wish to adopt please contact either Naomi or Bridget for a confidential chat. After hearing the specifics of your case they will be able to provide you with further information and options available to you. They will also give you an indication of the process, what will be required of you and the possible time frames involved.
Naomi Angell has considerable strength in adoption, surrogacy and fertility issues
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."
"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."
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.""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."
Naomi Angell has a vast wealth of knowledge and experience.
"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."
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 leading name in international adoption."
"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."
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.
Naomi Angell advises on international adoptions and complex surrogacy matters. She is commended for her broad, in-depth experience."
Naomi Angell is an expert in adoption issues.
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.
News & Insights from our Family Law SolicitorsVIEW ALL
17.4.2023Osbornes Law Welcomes New Head of International Children
Osbornes Law is delighted to announce the arrival of Lauren Hall to the firm. Lauren Hall joins the family department...
Read more
29.3.2023Parenting Talk With Noël Janis-Norton
Osbornes Law are delighted to be hosting internationally known parenting expert, Noël Janis-Norton, who will be delivering the talk:...
Read more
22.3.2023Cohabitation agreements
Unmarried couples who live together do not have the same legal protection as married couples and civil partners when they...
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
7.12.2022Judge ignores pre-nuptial agreement but factors in non-matrimonial...
Case Law One of the reasons I am still passionate about family law, after 20 years in the field, is that...
Read more
24.10.2022Family law award nomination for Osbornes Law
The family team at Osborne have been shortlisted as finalists at the Family Law Awards 2022. The department are one of...
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 
12.4.2022Mediation or Arbitration: What’s best for me?
Few divorcing couples want to end up in court, which is why mediation and arbitration are faster and more effective...
Read more- 22.12.2021
Naomi Angell, founder, celebrates Coram Children’s Legal...
Naomi Angell, Head of Osbornes’ Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility Law Unit spoke, at the 40th birthday of the Coram Children’...
Read more 
8.12.2021Has my child been abducted?
My ex-partner has taken our child abroad without my consent – what should I do? In order for a parent to...
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 - 16.9.2021
Osbornes Launch Parenthood Section With Tatler
The family department at Osbornes Law is delighted to announce a new initiative with Tatler. The firm has been working...
Read more - 6.9.2021
Osbornes Shortlisted At Family Law Awards
The family department is delighted to have been shortlisted for ‘London Law Firm of the Year 2021‘ at the Lexis Nexis...
Read more - 27.4.2021
Pre-nups becoming the new norm for soon to...
Lawyers are seeing record numbers of couples signing pre-nuptial agreements this year as the country moves closer to a society...
Read more - 5.3.2021
Can you contest a prenuptial agreement?
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are getting a divorce after nearly seven years of marriage. According to reports, Kim filed...
Read more - 5.10.2020
Lockdown rush to cohabitation leaves couples lacking financial...
When the lockdown was announced many couples had to make a rushed decision to move in together or face months...
Read more - 1.7.2020
Mediation by Zoom
At Osbornes, our Family Law mediations are in the main, conducted by Zoom during lockdown as our main office in...
Read more - 29.5.2020
I’m living with an abusive partner during...
On 23 March 2020 the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced a national lockdown. The government implemented the most severe restrictions on public...
Read more - 26.5.2020
London Council named as Judge lifts ruling
Haringey Council has been named in a case involving parents of a 14 year-old boy with cerebral palsy and his brother...
Read more
Accreditations
Most Visited Family Law Pages
Our Family Lawyers View the whole team
Claire Andrews
Partner
Family LawMark Freedman
Partner
Family LawLauren Hall
Partner
Family LawMaria Kitsiou
Partner
Family LawLisa Pepper
Partner
Family LawMartin Ross
Partner
Family LawAndrew Watson
Partner
Family LawJoanne Wescott
Partner
Family LawNaomi Angell
Consultant
Family LawDiana Bastow
Associate
Family LawSacha Ben-Shabat
Paralegal
Family LawSophie Brand
Solicitor
Family LawEmily Charlesworth
Trainee Solicitor
Family LawAmy-Jo Fletcher
Solicitor
Family LawLauren Gaines
Solicitor
Family LawSara Gatt-Floridia
Paralegal
Family LawAlicja Glabicka
Paralegal
Family LawHannah Goldstein
Trainee Solicitor
Family LawIsabelle James
Solicitor
Family LawJonathan Jonas
Associate Solicitor
Family LawChloe Khor
Paralegal
Family LawDavid Leadercramer
Consultant
Family LawNikki Lyttleton
Legal Assistant
Family LawSimone McGrath
Consultant
Family LawView the
whole team
