Child's name changed without permission from birth parents
A deemster has hit out at the Department of Health and Social Care after it allowed a child’s name to be changed without permission from its birth parents.
Deemster Corlett was hearing an adoption application in the Island’s family courts – most of the case can’t be reported for legal reasons.
However, in a judgement, he criticised the department after it gave permission for the name change.
Usually, birth parents are consulted before adoptive parents can change a forename – however, that didn’t happen in this case.
Deemster Corlett heard arguments about dispensing with the agreement of birth parents to an adoption, but most of the judgement remains confidential to protect the child, its parents and adopters.
But in his comments, he criticised what he called ‘the cavalier and unlawful approach’ to name-changing after the department gave its permission without asking the child’s parents.
He said parental responsibility carries the right to choose a forename until an adoption order is finally made.
And he added the child’s name must remain as chosen by its birth parents in the meantime.
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