The Adoption of Children Act (1926) introduced for the first time in England and Wales a legal process by which the rights and responsibilities for a child could be transferred from birth parents to adoptive parents. It provided a legal framework for adoption and is a significant historical development in child welfare legislation.
Coram, the UK’s first and longest continuing children’s charity, is running a programme of activities, launching in January 2026, to mark the centenary of legal adoption in England and Wales.
The pages on this website may contain language and content that are upsetting or triggering. Coram acknowledges that some records include language that is considered outdated, offensive, and unacceptable today. Some stories include descriptions of distressing topics.