Committee for Health & Social Care - P.2017/52
The States are asked to decide:-
Whether they are of the opinion to approve the draft Projet de Loi entitled "The Adoption (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2017", and to authorise the Bailiff to present a most humble petition to Her Majesty praying for Her Royal Sanction thereto.
This proposition has been submitted to Her Majesty's Procureur for advice on any legal or constitutional implications in accordance with Rule 4(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the States of Deliberation and their Committees.
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
The Law amends the Adoption (Guernsey) Law 1960 so as to enable civil partners, and unmarried couples (whether same-sex or opposite-sex), to adopt children jointly.
At present, the Law permits adoption by a single person, or by a married couple. It does not recognise same-sex relationships, whether or not formalised by way of marriage or civil partnership, nor does it enable unmarried couples to adopt jointly.
As a result of the Same-Sex Marriage (Guernsey) Law, 2016, which came into force on 2nd May 2017, the right to adopt jointly extends to same-sex married couples. The purpose of this projet is to further extend the right to adopt jointly to couples (a) who are in a civil partnership, and (b) who are not married nor civil partners but who are living together in an enduring family relationship, whether they are of different sexes or the same sex.
