Adoption Act 1993
- Number
- A1993-20
- Status
- In Force
- Current law
- Regulations & instruments
- Forms
- Point-in-time versions
- Law history
Current version
| Effective | Files/Formats | Version | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 December 2025 | HTMLPDFWord | R26 | 6 December 2025 | Republication for amendments by A2025-29 |
Administering Minister and Directorate
- Minister for Children, Youth and Families - Health and Community Services Directorate
- Minister for Human Rights - Justice and Community Safety Directorate
Legislative instruments
Legislative instruments under the Act and its subordinate laws
| Name | Status | Classifier | Type | Under | Effective | Year and No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption Regulation 1993 | None | Subordinate laws | s 121 | 16 November 2025 | SL1993-31 | |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2002 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2002 - 1 July 2003 | DI2002-65 |
| Attorney-General (Determination of Fees and Charges for 2002/2003) 2002 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2002 - 30 June 2003 | DI2002-126 |
| Regulations Revision Regulations(Repealed) | Repealed | Subordinate laws | s 121 | 22 March 1994 - 29 March 2001 | SL1994-7 | |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2001(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2001 - 30 June 2002 | DI2001-162 |
| Attorney General (Determination of Fees and Charges for 2003/2004) 2003 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2003 - 30 June 2004 | DI2003-90 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2003(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2003 - 30 June 2004 | DI2003-179 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2000(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2000 - 30 June 2001 | DI2000-214 |
| Adoption (Fees) Revocation and Determination 2000(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2000 - 30 June 2001 | DI2000-198 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1999(Repealed) | Repealed | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 7 July 1999 - 30 June 2000 | DI1999-169 | |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1999(Repealed) | Repealed | Disallowable instruments | SL1993-31 s 31 | 1 July 1999 - 30 June 2000 | DI1999-156 | |
| Adoption (Fees) Revocation and Determination 1998(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | SL1993-31 s 31 | 1 September 1998 - 30 June 1999 | DI1998-205 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1998(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 1998 - 6 July 1999 | DI1998-149 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1995(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 1995 - 22 October 1995 | DI1995-56 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1995(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | SL1993-31 s 31 | 1 July 1995 - 3 November 1996 | DI1995-58 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1995(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 23 October 1995 - 30 June 1996 | DI1995-149 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1997(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 1997 - 30 June 1998 | DI1997-115 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1997(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | SL1993-31 s 31 | 1 October 1997 - 31 August 1998 | DI1997-207 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1994(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | SL1993-31 s 31 | 1 July 1994 - 30 June 1995 | DI1994-77 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1994(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 11 July 1994 - 30 June 1995 | DI1994-107 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1996(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 1996 - 1 July 1997 | DI1996-58 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1996(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | SL1993-31 s 31 | 4 November 1996 - 30 September 1997 | DI1996-239 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 1993(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 30 June 1993 - 10 July 1994 | DI1993-75 |
| Attorney-General (Fees) Determination 2004(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2004 - 29 June 2005 | DI2004-106 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2004(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2004 - 1 July 2005 | DI2004-138 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2005(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 2 July 2005 - 30 June 2006 | DI2005-70 |
| Adoption (Adoption Information Service Counsellor) Approval 2005 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Notifiable instruments | s 72 | 15 July 2005 - 3 March 2016 | NI2005-255 | |
| Adoption Commencement Notice 1993(Repealed) | Repealed | Commencement notices | s 2 | 14 July 1993 - 1 August 1993 | CN1993-19 | |
| Adoption (Adoption Information Service Counsellor) Approval 2006 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Notifiable instruments | s 72 | 7 April 2006 - 3 March 2016 | NI2006-115 | |
| Adoption Counsellor Approval(Repealed) | Repealed | Notifiable instruments | s 72 | 6 August 1993 - 3 March 2016 | NI1993-313 | |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2006 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2006 - 19 June 2008 | DI2006-114 |
| Adoption Review Committee Appointment 2007 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Appointment | Disallowable instruments | s 17 | 29 May 2007 - 31 March 2008 | DI2007-111 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2008 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 20 June 2008 - 13 August 2009 | DI2008-127 |
| Adoption Review Committee Appointment 2008 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Appointment | Disallowable instruments | s 17 | 8 August 2008 - 31 March 2009 | DI2008-199 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2009 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 14 August 2009 - 29 April 2010 | DI2009-186 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2010 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 30 April 2010 - 27 June 2011 | DI2010-51 |
| Adoption Amendment Regulation 2010 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Subordinate laws | s 121 | 3 August 2010 - 4 August 2010 | SL2010-32 | |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2011 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 28 June 2011 - 30 June 2012 | DI2011-153 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2012 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2012 - 25 July 2013 | DI2012-135 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2013 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 26 July 2013 - 30 June 2014 | DI2013-200 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2014 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2014 - 30 June 2015 | DI2014-199 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2015 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2015 - 30 June 2017 | DI2015-182 |
| Adoption (Counsellor) Approval 2016 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Notifiable instruments | s 72 | 4 March 2016 - 11 April 2016 | NI2016-110 | |
| Adoption (Counsellor) Approval 2016 (No 2)(Repealed) | Repealed | Notifiable instruments | s 72 | 12 April 2016 - 29 July 2019 | NI2016-176 | |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2017 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2017 - 25 June 2018 | DI2017-185 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2018 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 26 June 2018 - 1 November 2018 | DI2018-182 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2018 (No 2)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 2 November 2018 - 27 June 2019 | DI2018-267 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2019 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 28 June 2019 - 30 June 2020 | DI2019-150 |
| Adoption (Counsellor) Approval 2019 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Notifiable instruments | s 72 | 30 July 2019 - 4 August 2022 | NI2019-478 | |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2020 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 188 | 1 July 2020 - 8 December 2022 | DI2020-190 |
| Adoption (Counsellor) Approval 2022 (No 1) | None | Notifiable instruments | s 72 | 5 August 2022 | NI2022-371 | |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2022 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 9 December 2022 - 12 September 2024 | DI2022-257 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2024 (No 1)(Repealed) | Repealed | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 13 September 2024 - 30 June 2025 | DI2024-286 |
| Adoption (Fees) Determination 2025 (No 1) | None | Fee | Disallowable instruments | s 118 | 1 July 2025 | DI2025-116 |
Related instruments
| Name | Effective | Year and No | Classification | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Sector Management (Adoption) Delegation 2012 (No 1) (Repealed) | 29 June 2012 - 29 March 2025 | NI2012-330 | ni | Repealed |
| Public Sector Management (Adoption) Delegation 2019 (No 1) (Repealed) | 21 August 2019 - 30 March 2023 | NI2019-624 | ni | Repealed |
| Public Sector Management (Adoption) Delegation 2023 (Repealed) | 31 March 2023 - 29 March 2025 | NI2023-171 | ni | Repealed |
Approved forms
Legislative instruments under the Act and its subordinate laws
| Form name/number | Status | Description | Category | Made for | Effective | Year and No | CategoryAll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption Regulations 1993—Form 1 | None | General consent of parent or guardian to adoption | s 5 | 12 September 2001 | AF2002-56 | ShowInAll | |
| Adoption Regulations 1993—Form 2 | None | Limited consent of parent or guardian to adoption | s 8 | 12 September 2001 | AF2002-57 | ShowInAll | |
| Adoption Regulations 1993—Form 3 | None | Memorandum of adoption order | s 8 | 12 September 2001 | AF2002-58 | ShowInAll |
Point-in-time versions
| Effective | Files/Formats | Version | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 December 2025 | HTMLPDFWord | R26 | 6 December 2025 | Republication for amendments by A2025-29 |
| 2 September 2023 - 5 December 2025 | HTMLPDFWord | R25 | 2 September 2023 | Republication for expiry of provision (s 122) |
| 20 August 2021 - 1 September 2023 | HTMLPDFWord | R24 | 20 August 2021 | Republication for amendments by A2020-40 |
| 1 September 2020 - 19 August 2021 | HTMLPDFWord | R23 | 1 September 2020 | Republication for amendments by A2020-39 |
| 14 November 2019 - 31 August 2020 | HTMLPDFWord | R22 | 14 November 2019 | Republication for amendments by A2019-42 |
| 9 March 2017 - 13 November 2019 | HTMLPDFWord | R21 | 9 March 2017 | Republication for amendments by A2017-4 |
| 23 June 2016 - 8 March 2017 | HTMLPDFWord | R20 | 23 June 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-38 |
| 1 April 2016 - 22 June 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R19 | 1 April 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-13 |
| 11 September 2012 - 31 March 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R18 | 11 September 2012 | Republication for amendments by A2012-40 |
| 23 April 2012 - 10 September 2012 | HTMLPDFWord | R17 | 23 April 2012 | Republication for expiry of transitional provisions (pt 20) |
| 1 March 2012 - 22 April 2012 | HTMLPDFWord | R16 | 1 March 2012 | Republication for amendments by A2011-48 |
| 1 July 2011 - 29 February 2012 | HTMLPDFWord | R15* | 1 July 2011 | Republication for amendments by A2011-22 |
| 22 April 2010 - 30 June 2011 | HTMLPDFWord | R14 | 22 April 2010 | Republication for amendments by A2009-36 |
| 6 March 2009 - 21 April 2010 | HTMLPDFWord | R13 | 6 March 2009 | Republication for amendments by A2009-6 |
| 2 February 2009 - 5 March 2009 | HTMLPDFWord | R12 | 2 February 2009 | Republication for amendments by A2008-37 |
| 27 October 2008 - 1 February 2009 | HTMLPDFWord | R11 | 27 October 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2008-20 |
| 26 August 2008 - 26 October 2008 | HTMLPDFWord | R10 | 26 August 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2008-28 |
| 29 September 2006 - 25 August 2008 | HTMLPDFWord | R9 | 29 September 2006 | Republication for amendments by A2006-40 |
| 1 March 2006 - 28 September 2006 | HTMLPDFWord | R8* | 1 March 2006 | Republication for amendments by A2005-47 as amended by A2006-3 |
| 9 April 2004 - 28 February 2006 | HTMLPDFWord | R7 | 9 April 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-15 |
| 22 March 2004 - 8 April 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R6 | 22 March 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-1 |
| 13 September 2002 - 21 March 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R5 | 13 September 2002 | Republication for commenced expiry |
| 12 September 2001 - 12 September 2002 | HTMLPDFWord | R4 | 13 December 2001 | Republication for amendments by A2001-44 |
| 10 May 2000 - 11 September 2001 | HTMLPDFWord | R3A | 11 August 2003 | Republication for amendments by A1999-64 |
| 9 December 1998 - 9 May 2000 | HTMLPDFWord | R3 (RI) | 11 August 2003 | Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 1 June 1998 - 23 June 1998 | HTMLPDFWord | R2A | 11 August 2003 | Republication for amendments by A1997-96 |
| 15 December 1994 - 31 May 1998 | HTMLPDFWord | R2 (RI) | 11 August 2003 | Republication for amendments by A1994-97 Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 29 November 1994 - 14 December 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R1C | 11 August 2003 | Republication for amendments by A1994-81 |
| 14 November 1994 - 28 November 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R1B | 11 August 2003 | Republication for amendments by A1994-60 |
| 1 July 1994 - 13 November 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R1A | 11 August 2003 | Republication for amendments by A1994-38 |
| 1 October 1993 - 30 June 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R1 (RI) | 11 August 2003 | Reissued electronic republication of printed version Republication for amendments by A1993-64 |
| 27 August 1993 - 30 September 1993 | HTMLPDFWord | R0A | 11 August 2003 | Republication for amendments by A1993-44 |
| 31 July 1993 | HTMLPDFWord | As notified | 2 April 1993 |
Bill and Explanatory statement
The bill and explanatory statement for this Act are accessed from Adoption Bill 1992.
Notification statement
The Adoption Act 1993 was passed by the Legislative Assembly and was notified in the Gazette on 2 April 1993 (Gaz 1993 No S46).
(Parliamentary Counsel)
Act as notified
| Date notified | Effective | Files/Formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 April 1993 | 31 July 1993 | HTMLPDFWord |
Commencement
| Provision | Commencement date | Commencement method |
|---|---|---|
| s 1, s 2 | 2 April 1993 | s 2 (1) |
| remainder | 31 July 1993 | s 2 (2) and Gaz 1993 No S28 |
Expiries
| Provision | Expiry date | Expiry method |
|---|---|---|
| s 122 | 1 September 2023 (midnight) | s 122 (3) |
| pt 20 | 22 April 2012 (midnight) | s 206 (1) |
| s 120A (4)-(7) | 12 September 2002 (midnight) | s 120A (7) |
Amendments
For section-by-section amendment annotations, see the amendment history in the endnotes in the current version of this law.
| Year and number | Amending law | Amending provision | Commencement date |
|---|---|---|---|
| A2019-42 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2019 | sch 3 pt 3.2 | 14 November 2019 |
| A2017-4 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2017 | sch 3 pt 3.3 | 9 March 2017 |
| A2016-38 | Children and Young People Legislation Amendment Act 2016 | pt 2 | 23 June 2016 |
| A2016-13 | Protection of Rights (Services) Legislation Amendment Act 2016 (No 2) | sch 1 pt 1.2 | 1 April 2016 |
| A2012-40 | Civil Unions Act 2012 | sch 3 pt 3.2 | 11 September 2012 |
| A2011-48 | Evidence (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011 | sch 1 pt 1.2 | 1 March 2012 |
| A2011-22 | Administrative (One ACT Public Service Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2011 | sch 1 pt 1.5 | 1 July 2011 |
| A2009-36 | Adoption Amendment Act 2009 (No 2) | ss 4-74 | 22 April 2010 |
| A2009-6 | Adoption Amendment Act 2009 | s 4, s 5 | 6 March 2009 |
| A2008-37 | ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (No 2) | sch 1 pt 1.2 | 2 February 2009 |
| A2008-28 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2008 | sch 3 pt 3.1 | 26 August 2008 |
| A2008-20 | Children and Young People (Consequential Amendments) Act 2008 | sch 3 pt 3.1 | 27 October 2008 |
| A2006-40 | Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2006 | sch 2 pt 2.4 | 29 September 2006 |
| A2006-22 | Civil Unions Act 2006 | sch 1 pt 1.2 | never commenced |
| A2005-47 | Public Advocate Act 2005 | sch 1 pt 1.1 | 1 March 2006 |
| A2004-15 | Criminal Code (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Amendment Act 2004 | sch 2 pt 2.2 | 9 April 2004 |
| A2004-1 | Parentage Act 2004 | sch 1 pt 1.2 | 22 March 2004 |
| A2001-44 | Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 | pt 7 | 12 September 2001 |
| A1999-64 | Children and Young People (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 | sch 2 | 10 May 2000 |
| A1998-54 | Statute Law Revision (Penalties) Act 1998 | sch | 9 December 1998 |
| A1997-113 | Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration (Consequential Provisions) Act 1997 | sch | 24 June 1998 |
| A1997-96 | Legal Practitioners (Consequential Amendments) Act 1997 | sch 1 | 1 June 1998 |
| A1994-97 | Statutory Offices (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 | sch pt 1 | 15 December 1994 |
| A1994-81 | Statute Law Revision (Penalties) Act 1994 | sch | 29 November 1994 |
| A1994-60 | Administrative Appeals (Consequential Amendments) Act 1994 | sch 1 | 14 November 1994 |
| A1994-38 | Public Sector Management (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 1994 | sch 1 pt 4 | 1 July 1994 |
| A1993-64 | Registrar-General (Consequential Provisions) Act 1993 | sch 1 | 1 October 1993 |
| A1993-44 | Acts Revision (Position of Crown) Act 1993 | sch 2 | 27 August 1993 |
| A2020-39 | Adoption Amendment Act 2020 | ss 4-8 | 1 September 2020 |
| A2020-40 | Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Act 2020 | sch 1 | 20 August 2021 |
| A2025-29 | Statute Law Amendment Act 2025 | sch 4 pt 4.6 | 6 December 2025 |