Section 9 — Adoption Act 1955: Withdrawal of consents

9 Withdrawal of consents (1) Where any consent to an adoption of a child by any specified person or persons is given by any parent or guardian of the child except the chief executive, the consent shall not be withdrawn at any time while an application by the said person or persons to adopt the child is pending, or until the said person or persons have had a reasonable opportunity to make an application to adopt the child. (2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, any consent to an adoption, and any appointment of the chief executive as the guardian of a child under subsection (4) of section 7 of this Act, may be withdrawn at any time while neither an interim order nor an adoption order has been made in connection with the adoption, but shall not be withdrawn after any such order has been made. Where any such appointment of the chief executive is so withdrawn, any consent given by him shall lapse. Subsections (1) and (2) were amended, as from 1 April 1972, by section 23(4)(a) Department of Social Welfare Act 1971 (1971 No 60) by substituting the words “ the Director-General ” for the words “ the Superintendent of Child Welfare ” . See SR 1972/37. Subsections (1) and (2) were amended, as from 1 October 1999, by section 13 Department of Child, Youth and Family Services Act 1999 (1999 No 82) by substituting the words “ chief executive ” for the words “ Director-General ” .