Name of child
23 Name of child
Where the Court makes an order for the adoption of a child it may by the same or a subsequent order declare the name by which the child is to be known.
Before making an order changing the name of a child, the Court should take into account any wishes expressed by the child on the subject.
The Court will not—
in the case of a child who is over the age of
12 years—change the name of the child unless—
the child consents to the change; or
the child is intellectually incapable of consenting;
and
in all cases—change the first name of a child unless—
the first name is offensive or unsuitable; or
another child of the adoptive parents has the same first name.
If the Court changes the first name of a child in accordance with subsection (3)(b), the Court should, so far as is reasonably practicable, seek to change the first name—
so that the child's second name becomes the first name of the child; or
to another name brought to the attention of the Court that is of significance to the child, taking into account the child's identity, language and cultural and (if relevant) religious ties.
An order under this section does not prevent a subsequent change of name in accordance with the law of the State.
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