In a letter from the Lord Chancellors Department in August this year, information was given about the new centralisation of adoption work in specialist court centres.

This centralisation follows from the commitments made by the Government in the White Paper Adoption: a new approach, published on 21 December 2000. The objective is to deal with adoption in centres with specialist adoption judiciary and staff.

Although adoption cases may continue to be issued in the same courts as now, the case is likely to be transferred to the appropriate specialist centre. There will be no charge for this. Judges will be able decide not to transfer the case to an adoption centre where it is considered inappropriate to do so. Also Judges may travel to other centres to hear cases in the most convenient location for the parties, where the circumstances allow.

A list of adoption centres can be found at the back of the leaflet A guide for court users. Cases proceeding in the Family Proceedings Courts are unaffected at present by this system.

The Lord Chancellors letter continues that the guidance "sets out, once a case is issued or transferred into an adoption centre the court staff at the centre (adoption officers) refer the file to the adoption judge to give directions as to what should happen next for example appoint a Reporting Officer or Children’s Guardian. A directions hearing at which all the parties should attend will usually be arranged for around four weeks time after issue of the application. At the directions hearing the Judge will consider a range of issues including those listed in the attached guidance. Throughout the case both the adoption judge and adoption officer will monitor the progress of the case, ensure that timetables are adhered to and chase up those which are not complied with.

Existing cases at 1 October (or at 1 November if at a London Group Court) already listed for final hearing at non-adoption centres are unlikely to be transferred to adoption centres unless the judge orders a transfer on the grounds that, for example, a quicker or more conveniently located hearing could be provided. All other existing cases at non-adoption centres will be transferred at the discretion of the local Judge or District Judge whenever the matter next comes before the court."

The Lord Chancellors Department is keen to get feedback from court users about the time the court process takes. Applicants will therefore be given feedback forms.