Custodianship and Adoption

The Adoption Act 1976 (A. A. 1976) came into force on January 1, 1988.' Prior to this date adoption law was found in a series of statutes, most notably the Adoption Act 1958 and the Children Act 1975. The 1976 Act consolidates the earlier legislation. The custodianship provisions in the Children Act 1975 (C.A. 1975) were implemented on December 1,1985.2 Custodianship is a new concept providing an intermediate status between care and control and full adoption. Whereas adoption provides for the permanent transfer of full parental rights and duties, custodianship envisages the transfer of less than full parental rights and duties for a period which need not be permanent.