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Changes to law mean unmarried couples can now adopt

Jersey’s government has backed changes to legislation which will allow unmarried couples - whether heterosexual or homosexual - to adopt.

Currently they are only allowed to foster as a couple.

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It has being hailed as the biggest change to Jersey's adoption laws for generations.

The island's government today backed changes to legislation which will allow unmarried couples - whether heterosexual or homosexual - to adopt.

The Health Minister says the move is needed to ensure young people aren't denied good homes.

It is a decision being welcomed by those who want to offer youngsters a stable upbringing, but who - until now - have been denied that right. Our political correspondent Leah Ferguson reports.

'Marriage is not an indicator of stability'

Credit: PA stills

Jersey’s Fostering and Adoption team say that are happy the States have passed a proposition to change the laws on adoption.

At present, unmarried couples are not allowed to adopt, only foster. But the law will now change, meaning all unmarried couples - whether heterosexual or homosexual - can adopt. This modernisation will widen the pool of potential adoptive parents.

It is important for people to have a stable relationship when they adopt a child or children, however, marriage can be an indicator of stability, but it is not everything and we do know that some people who are not married are in very stable relationships and for us it is really important that we can consider those children for adoption.

– Emmy Lindsay, Manager of Fostering and Adoption

Find out more about adopting in Jersey here. Find out more about adopting in Guernsey here.

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Changes to law mean unmarried couples can now adopt

Credit: PA stills

Jersey’s government has backed changes to legislation which will allow unmarried couples - whether heterosexual or homosexual - to adopt.

Currently they are only allowed to foster as a couple.

The Health Minister has said young people should not be denied the best home just because a couple are not married.

I don't think there's any reason to deny a young person a good home because a couple aren't married. Couples that are suitable to be good parents, who want to have children and can provide that good home, that's got to come first, surely.

– – SENATOR ANDREW GREEN, MINISTER FOR HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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