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SubscribeConvention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law and Recognition of Decrees Relating to Adoptions
Authorities
Authorities Austria
16-04-1969
Re Article 16
a) The Court designated to supervise the guardianship or foster care of the child
shall have the power to grant an adoption within the meaning of the first paragraph
of Article 3.
If there is no such Court in Austria, the District Court within whose jurisdiction
the child has its habitual residence in Austria shall be competent.
In the absence of any such habitual residence in Austria, the District Court within
whose jurisdiction the adopter - and in the case of an adoption by spouses - one of
the spouses habitually resides shall be competent.
In the absence, also, of any such habitual residence the "Innere Stadt Wien" District
Court shall be competent.
b) For the communication provided for in the Second paragraph of Article 6, the Federal
Ministry for Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für sociale Verwaltung) shall be responsible
in cases where actual assistance is requested and not, therefore, in applications
for legal aid.
c) The provisions regarding the power to grant an adoption referred to under a) shall
also apply to the annulment or revocation of an adoption in accordance with Article
7.
d) The Federal Ministry of Justice (Bundesministerium für Justiz) shall be responsible
for receiving any notifications under Article 9.
Authorities Switzerland
07-06-1973
II. Communication relating to article 16 of the Convention
a) The authorities of the canton in which the adoptive parents habitually reside have
jurisdiction to grant an adoption within the meaning of the first paragraph of article
3. The authorities of the canton of origin have jurisdiction in the case of Swiss
adopters who do not habitually reside in Switzerland.
The cantons have designated the following authorities:
Zürich: Bezirksrat
Bern: Justizdirektion
Luzern: Regierungsstatthalter
Uri: Justizdirektion
Schwyz: Departement des Innern
Obwalden: Regierungsrat
Nidwalden: Kantonsgerichtspräsident
Glarus: Regierungsrat
Zug: Direktion des Innern
Freiburg: Justizdepartement
Solothurn: Justizdepartement
Basle-(City): Justizdepartement
Basle-(District): Justizdirektion
Schaffhausen: Gemeindedirektion
Appenzell A. Rh.: Regierungsrat
Appenzell I. Rh.: Standeskommission
St.Gallen: Bezirksamman
Graubünden: Bezirksgerichtsausschuss
Aargau: Departement des Innern
Thurgau: Regierungsrat
Tessin: Staatsrat (Consiglio di Stato)
Waadt: Département de Justice et de Police
Wallis: Staatsrat
Neuchatel: Tribunal cantonal
Geneva: Cour de justice civile
b) The requests for assistance referred to in the second paragraph of article 6 of
the Convention should be addressed to the cantonal authorities referred to under (a)
above. These authorities also have jurisdiction to make such requests.
c) An action to annul an adoption within the meaning of article 7 of the Convention
should be brought before the competent civil court. Under Swiss law the organization
of the courts is regulated by the cantons (article 64 (3), of the Federal Constitution;
article 269 (1) of the Swiss Civil Code). The Code of Civil Procedure or the Judicature
Law of each canton states which court has jurisdiction; as a general rule the court
of first instance is the district court.
d) The communications envisaged by article 9 of the Convention should be addressed
to "l'Office fédéral de la Justice du Département fédéral de Justice et Police, 3003
Berne". (modified on 27 June 1984).
Authorities United Kingdom
24-08-1978
Article 16
3. In accordance with the provisions of Article 16(a) of the Convention, the United
Kingdom designates as the authorities having power to grant an adoption within the
meaning of the first paragraph of Article 3:
a. In England and Wales: the High Court of Justice;
b. In Scotland: the Court of Session;
c. In Northern Ireland: the High Court of Justice.
4. In accordance with the provisions of Article 16(b) of the Convention, the United
Kingdom designates as the authorities having power to exchange the communications
envisaged by the second paragraph of Article 6:
a. In England and Wales: the council of a county (other than a metropolitan county),
a metropolitan district, a London borough or the Common Council of the City of London;
b. In Scotland: a regional or islands council;
c. In Northern Ireland: a Health and Social Services Board.
5. In accordance with the provisions of Article 16(c) of the Convention, the United
Kingdom designates as the authorities having power to annul or revoke an adoption
under Article 7, the same authorities as those designated under Article 16(a) for
England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.
6. In accordance with the provisions of Article 16(d) of the Convention, the United
Kingdom designates as the authority having power to receive information in pursuance
of Article 9 on behalf of the whole of the United Kingdom:
The Registrar General for England and Wales,
General Register Office,
St Catherines House,
10 Kingsway,
London WC2.
List of authorities in the United Kingdom to whom communications envisaged in the
second paragraph of Article 6 of the Convention may be addressed.
IN ENGLAND AND WALES
(Communications should be addressed to the Director of Social Services)
Avon
Avon County Council
PO Box No 30
Avon House North
St James Barton
BRISTOL
BS99 7NB
Barking
London Borough of Barking
Dagenham Civic Centre
DAGENHAM
Essex
RM1O 7BY
Barnsley
Barnsley District Council
Regent House
Regent Street
BARNSLEY
Yorkshire
S70 2DU
Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
Winston House
Dollis Park
LONDON
N3 1HB
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire County Council
County Hall
Cauldwell Street
BEDFORD
MK42 9AD
Berkshire
Berkshire County Council
Abbey Mill House
Abbey Square
READING
RG13BH
Bexley
London Borough of Bexley
Civic Offices
Broadway
BEXLEYHEATH
Kent
DA6 7LB
Birmingham
City of Birmingham
Snow Hill House
10-15 Livery Street
BIRMINGHAM
B3 2PE
Bolton
Bolton District Council
Marsden House
Deansgate
BOLTON
BL1 1BE
Bradford
City of Bradford
Provincial House
Tyrrel Street
BRADFORD
BD1 1NP
Brent
London Borough of Brent
Brent House
High Road
WEMBLEY
Middlesex
HA9 6BT
Bromley
London Borough of Bromley
Sherman House
Sherman Road
BROMLEY
Kent
BR1 3TH
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire County Council
Stocklake
AYLESBURY
HP20 1DP
Bury
Bury District Council
Craig House
Bank Street
BURY
BL9 OBA
Calderdale
Calderdale District Council
Wellesley Park
Highroadwell
HALIFAX
HX2 OBA
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire County Council
Castle Court
Shire Hall
CAMBRIDGE
CB3 0AP
Camden
London Borough of Camden
Willing House
356-364 Gray's Inn Road
LONDON
WC1X 8BH
Cheshire
Cheshire County Council
Commerce House
Hunter Street
CHESTER
CH1 1SR
Cleveland
Cleveland County Council
Marton House
Borough Road
MIDDLESBROUGH
Cleveland
TS1 2HH
Clwyd
Clwyd County Council
Shire Hall
MOLD
Clwyd
CR7 6NN
Cornwall
Cornwall County Council
County Hall
Station Road
TRURO
TR1 3AU
Coventry
City of Coventry
New Council Offices
Earl Street
COVENTRY
CV1 5RS
Crydon
London Borough of Croydon
Taberner House
Park Lane
CROYDON
Surrey
CR9 2BA
Cumbria
Cumbria County Council
"Geltsdale"
The Plains
Wetheral
CARLISLE
CA4 8LF
Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Council
County Offices
MATLOCK
DE4 3AG
Devon
Devon County Council
County Hall
Topsham Road
EXETER
EX2 4QR
Doncaster
Doncaster District Council
PO Box No 70
Old Guildhall Yard
off French Gate
DONCASTER
DN1 1RH
Dorset
Dorset County Council
County Hall
DORCHESTER
DT1 1XJ
Dudley
Dudley District Council
Ednam House
St James Road
DUDLEY
DY1 1HF
Durham
Durham County Council
County Hall
DURHAM
DH1 5UG
Dyfed
Dyfed County Council
3 Red Street
CARMARTHEN
Dyfed
Ealing
London Borough of Ealing
Town Hall Annexe
New Broadway
LONDON
W5 2BY
East Sussex
East Sussex County Council
PO Box 5
County Hall
St Anne's Crescent
LEWES
BN7 1SW
Enfield
London Borough of Enfield
Civic Centre
Silver Street
ENFIELD
Middlesex
EN1 3XL
Essex
Essex County Council
Kensal House
77 Springfield Road
CHELMSFORD
CM2 6JG
Gateshead
Gateshead District Council
Windmill Hills
GATESHEAD
NE8 1PJ
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Council
Bearland Wing
Shire Hall
GLOUCESTER
GL1 2TR
Greenwich
London Borough of Greenwich
Peggy Middleton House
50 Woolwich New Road
LONDON
SE18 6HQ
Gwent
Gwent County Council
County Hall
Croesyceiliog
CWMBRAN
Gwent
Gwynedd
Gwynedd County Council
Council Offices
Maesincla
CAERNARVON
Gwynedd
LL55 1SH
Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
205 Morning Lane
LONDON
E9 6LG
Hammersmith
London Borough of Hammersmith
Old Town Hall
Fulham Broadway
LONDON
SW6
Hampshire
Hampshire County Council
The Castle
WINCHESTER
S023 8UQ
Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
Tottenham Town Hall
Town Hall Approach Road
LONDON
N15 4RY
Harrow
London Borough of Harrow
PO Box 7
Civic Centre
Station Road
HARROW
Middlesex
HA1 2UL
Havering
London Borough of Havering
Mercury House
Mercury Gardens
ROMFORD
Essex
RM1 3DU
Hereford and Worcester
Hereford and Worcestershire
County Council
Farrier House
Farrier Street
WORCESTER
WR1 3EW
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire County Council
County Hall
HERTFORD
SG13 8DP
Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
Council Offices
High Street
UXBRIDGE
Middlesex
UB8 1HA
Hounslow
London Borough of Hounslow
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
HOUNSLOW
Middlesex
TW3 4DN
Humberside
Humberside County Council
Prospect House
Prospect Street
KINGSTON-UPON-HULL
HU2 8PU
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight County Council
County Hall
NEWPORT
Isle of Wight
PO3 01UD
Islington
Londen Borough of Islington
17 Islington Park Street
LONDON
N1 1QT
Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Borough of Kensington and
Chelsea
The Town Hall
Hornton Street
LONDON
W8 7NX
Kent
Kent County Council
Springfield
MAIDSTONE
ME14 2LW
Kingston Upon Thames
Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames
Eagle Wharf
36A High Street
KINGSTON UPON THAMES
Surrey
KT1 1HR
Kirklees
Kirklees District Council
Ramsden House
83 New Street
HUDDERSFIELD
HD1 2TP
Knowsley
Knowsley District Council
Council Offices
Archway Road
Huyton
LIVERPOOL
L36 9UX
Lambeth
London Borough of Lambeth
Blue Star House
234-244 Stockwell Road
LONDON
SW9 9SR
Lancashire
Lancashire County Council
Duchy House
96 Lancaster Road
PRESTON
PR1 8LL
Leeds
Leeds District Council
110 Merrion Centre
LEEDS
LS2 8QA
Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Council
County Hall
Glenfield
LEICESTER
LE3 8RL
Lewisham
London Borough of Lewisham
Eros House
Brownhill Road
LONDON
SE6 2EG
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire County Council
County Offices
LINCOLN
LN1 1YI
Liverpool
City of Liverpool
Hatton Gardens
LIVERPOOL
L3 2AW
City of London
Council of the City of London
Milton Court
Moor Lane
LONDON
EC2Y 9BL
Manchester
City of Manchester
Solway House
Aytoun Street
MANCHESTER
M1 3ET
Merton
London Borough of Merton
116-118 Kingston Road
LONDON
SW19 1LY
Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan County Council
County Offices
Greyfriars Road
CARDIFF
CF1 3LL
Newcastle Upon Tyne
City of Newcastle
Civic Centre
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE1 8PA
Newham
London Borough of Newham
99 The Grove
LONDON
E15 1HR
Norfolk
Norfolk County Council
County Hall
Martineau Lane
NORWICH
NR 1 2DH
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Council
Northampton House
NORTHAMPTON
NN1 2JE
Northumberland
Northumberland County Council
Eldon House
Regent Centre
Regent Farm Road
Gosforth
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE3 3NF
North Tyneside
North Tyneside District Council
Citadel East
Killingworth
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE12 OYB
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire County Council
County Hall
NORTHALLERTON
DL7 8DD
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Council
County Hall
West Bridgford
NOTTINGHAM
NG2 7QP
Oldham
Oldham District Council
Civic Centre
West Street
OLDHAM
OL1 1NZ
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire County Council
27 Park End Street
OXFORD
OX1 1HU
Powys
Powys County Council
County Hall
LLANDRINDOD WELLS
Powys
Redbridge
London Borough of Redbridge
17-23 Clements Road
ILFORD
Essex
IG1 1BL
Richmond Upon Thames
Royal Borough of Richmond Upon Thames
Town Hall
RICHMOND UPON THAMES
Surrey
TW9 1TD
Rochdale
Rochdale District Council
Dunsterville
Manchester Road
ROCHDALE
Rotherham
Rotherham District Council
PO Box 64
Crinoline House
Effingham Square
ROTHERHAM
S65 1AW
Salford
Salford District Council
Crompton House
100 Chorley Street
SWINTON
M27 2BP
Salop
Salop County Council
The Shirehall
Abbey Foregate
SHREWSBURY
SY2 6NL
Sandwell
Sandwell District Council
Municipal Buildings
Talbot Street
Oldbury
WARLEY
West Midlands
B69 2AE
Sefton
Sefton District Council
Burlington House
Crosby Road North
LIVERPOOL
L22 OPS
Sheffield
City of Sheffield
Redvers House
Union Street
SHEFFIELD
Sl 2JQ
Solihull
Solihull District Council
PO Box 32
The Council House
SOLIHULL
West Midlands
B91 3QY
Somerset
Somerset County Council
County Hall
TAUNTON
Southwark
London Borough of Southwark
Castle House
2 Walworth Road
LONDON
SE1 6SS
South Glamorgan
South Glamorgan County Council
Municipal Offices
Greyfriars Road
CARDIFF
CFI 3JY
South Tyneside
South Tyneside District Council
5 Hampden Street
SOUTH SHIELDS
NE33 4JR
St Helens
St Helens District Council
Lincoln House
80 Corporation Street
ST HELENS
WA1O 1UQ
Staffordshire
Staffordshire County Council
69/70a Forgate Street
STAFFORD
S16 2PY
Stockport
Stockport District Council
Stopford House
Piccadilly
STOCKPORT
SK1 3XE
Suffolk
Suffolk County Council
Milner House
Rope Walk
IPSWICH
IP4 2JN
Sunderland
Sunderland District Council
Civic Centre
SUNDERLAND
SR2 7DN
Surrey
Surrey County Council
Surrey House
34 Eden Street
KINGSTON UPON THAMES
KT1 1DW
Sutton
London Borough of Sutton
Town Hall
WALLINGTON
Surrey
SM6 0NB
Tameside
Tameside District Council
Mercian House
2a/4a Mercian Way
ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE
OL6 7NY
Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Archer House
193-197 Bow Road
LONDON
E3 2SL
Trafford
Trafford District Council
Birch House
Talbot Road
Old Trafford
MANCHESTER
M16 OGH
Wakefield
Wakefield District Council
89 Northgate
WAKEFIELD
WF1 3DA
Waltham Forest
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Municipal Offices
High Road
LONDON
E10 5QJ
Walsall
Walsall District Council
Civic Centre
Darwall Street
WALSALL
West Midlands
WS1 1RG
Wandsworth
London Borough of Wandsworth
Town Hall
Wandsworth High Street
LONDON
SW18 2PU
Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Council
PO Box 48 Shire Hall
WARWICK
CV34 4RD
Westminster
Council of the City of Westminster
PO Box 240
Westminster City Hall
5 Victoria Street
LONDON
SW1E 6QP
West Glamorgan
West Glamorgan County Council
Princess House
Princess Way
SWANSEA
West Sussex
West Sussex County Council
Grange Block
County Hall
Tower Street
CHICHESTER
P019 1QT
Wigan
Wigan District Council
Municipal Buildings
Hewlett Street
WIGAN
WN1 14D
Wirral
Wirral District Council
Social Services Centre
Cleveland Street
BIRKENHEAD
L41 6BL
Wiltshire
Wiltshire County Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
TROWBRIDGE
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton District Council
Bankfield House
45 Waterloo Road
WOLVERHAMPTON
WV1 4RX
IN SCOTLAND
(Communications should be addressed to the Director of Social Work)
Borders
Borders Regional Council
Social Work Department
St Dunstan's
MELROSE
TD6 9RU
Central
Central Regional Council
Social Work Department HQ
Langgarth
STIRLING
FK8 2HA
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway Regional
Council
Social Work Department HQ
8 Gordon Street
DUMFRIES
DG1 1EQ
Fife
Fife Regional Council
Social Work Department HQ
Flemington Road
GLENROTHES
Fife
KY7 5QG
Grampian
Grampian Regional Council
Social Work Department HQ
Woodhill House
Ashgrove Road West
ABERDEEN
AB9 2LU
Highland
Highland Regional Council
Social Work Department
Regional Buildings
Glenurquhart Road
INVERNESS
IV3 5NX
Lothian
Lothian Regional Council
Social Work Department HQ
Shrubhill House
Shrub Place
EDINBURGH
EH7 4PD
Orkney
Orkney Islands Council
Social Work Department
Mounthoolie Lane
KIRKWALL
Orkney
KW15 1HW
Shetland
Shetland Islands Council
Social Work Department HQ
64 St Olaf Street
LERWICK
Shetland
ZE1 OES
Strathclyde
Strathclyde Regional Council
Social Work Department
McIver House
51 Cadogan Street
GLASGOW
G2 7QB
Tayside
Tayside Regional Council
Social Work Department HQ
Tayside House
28 Crichton Street
DUNDEE
DD1 3RN
Western Isles
Western Isles Islands Council
Social Work Department HQ
Rosebank
52 Church Street
STORNOWAY
Isle of Lewis
PA87 2BW
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
(Communications should be addressed to the Director of Social Services)
Eastern
Eastern Health and Social Services
Board
65 University Street
BELFAST
BT7 1HN
Northern
Northern Health and Social
Services Board
County Hall
Galgorim Road
BALLYMENA
BT42 10B
Southern
Southern Health and Social
Services Board
20 Seagoe Industrial Area
Portadown
GRAIGAVON
County Armagh
BT63 5Q
Western
Western Health and Social Services
Board
15 Gransha Park
Clooney Road
LONDONDERRY
BY47 1TG