Last Updated 20-MAR-2024
ADOPTION APPLICATIONS
Registry staff are trained to receive and issue court documents; they are not legally trained and
cannot provide individuals with legal advice.
This is particularly important to understand when you are seeking adoption information. While
adoption is a highly personal process, it has many legal ramifications.
Registry staff can only provide guidance for the procedure in a straight forward adoption.
Registry staff cannot assist you with matters of legal advice.
This package contains information for a basic adoption application, together with samples of the
forms that you may use to assist you when drafting your own documents.
This basic adoption proceeding is commenced by filing a petition and affidavit with all required
consents, reports and a draft order.
The filing fee to open an adoption application is $200.00 payable by cash, cheque or money
order to the Minister of Finance. $80.00 is required for an unopposed desk order application.
Other documents which may be required for the application are obtainable from the Vital
Statistics Agency,
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/seniors/health-
safety/health-care-programs-and-services/vital-statistics or your local Service BC Office:
• Registration of Live Birth form
• VSA 433 - Identification Particulars form
A report from the Director of Adoption, Ministry for Children and Families may also be required.
If the Report from the Director of Adoption or the adoption agency was signed more than three
months prior to the application to the Court, a certificate confirming the report must also be filed
(see section 35(2) Adoption Act).
A lawyer or social worker must explain the meaning and effect of adoption to the person signing
the consent. The name and occupation of the person who provides the explanation must be
included in the Affidavit of Consent. Where a consent does not confirm the occupation of the
person giving the explanation, a further affidavit of the person consenting must be filed. The
consent of the birth parent is not required in an adult adoption (section 44(2) Adoption Act).
Service of the petition on the birth parents is required, unless (although not required) the
consent of the birth parents has been obtained.
In all adoptions, if the child is between the ages of 7 and up to and including 11 years, a report
of a younger child's views is required before the application to the court. Contact a social
worker at the Ministry of Children and Family Development if this applies to your application.
Where a biological father is not required to consent as a parent within the meaning of the
Adoption Act, an affidavit of the natural mother attesting to this and to the search of the Registry
for Birth Parents is required. The address of the Registry for Birth Parents is: