Section 7, The Adoption Act, 1989 Short title

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section the Court may upon any application foran adoption order postpone the determination of the application and make an interim order giving the custody of the juvenile to the applicant for a period not exceeding two years by way of a probationary period upon such terms as regards provision for the maintenance, education and supervision for the welfare of the juvenile and otherwise as the Court may think fit. (2) The Court shall impose as conditions under subsection (1)- (a) that the juvenile shall be under the supervision of an officer appointed by the Chief Social Development Officer, and, (b) that the juvenile shall not be taken out of Sierra Leone without the leave of the court. (3) All such consents as are required to an adoption order shall be necessary for an interim order but subject to a like power on the part of the Court to dispense with any such consent (4) An interim order shall not be made in any case where the making of an adoption order would be unlawful by virtue of subsection (4) of Section 3. (5) An interim order shall not be deemed to be an adoption order within the meaning of this Act. Application to 8. Where the applicant or, in the case of a joint application either a person who is of the applicants is not a citizen of Sierra Leone, the Court shall not a citizen of in exercise of its powers under section 7 postpone the Sierra Leone determination of the application and make an interim order for a period of not less than six months. Children 9 An adoption order or an interim order, may be made in respect of a Previously adopted juvenile who has already been the subject of an adoption order and the adopter under the previous adoption shall, if alive; be deemed to be the parent of the juvenile for all the purposes of this Act. Jurisdiction 10 (1) An application for an adoption shall be made to the Court. and procedure (2) The Chief Jus tice may make, rules in regard to any matter to be prescribed under this Act and dealing generally with all matters of procedure and incidental matters arising out of this Act or for carrying this Act into effect. 3) Rules under this section shall, among other things provide- (a) for the proceedings to be otherwise than in open court, except in such exceptional circumstances as may be provided for by the rules. (b) for the admission of documentary evidence of any consent required under Section 4 and Section 5; (c) for the admission in evidence of a certified copy of any entry in the Adopted Children Register; (d) p rescribing the form of the direction to be given in an adoption order as to making an entry in that Register, and the manner in which the making of an adoption order shall be communicated to the Administrator and Registrar-General; (e) for requiring the Chief Social Development Officer to represent the interests of the juvenile in any proceedings with respect to an adoption order or an interim order; (f) for requiring the Chief Social Development Officer to prepare for the consideration of the Court on an application for an adoption order a report for the assistance of the Court in determining whether the order will be for the welfare of the juvenile. No.9 Adoption 19S9 (g) as to searches in the Adopted Children Register and the fees to be charged in respect of the services made available in connection with that Register, (h) for recording adoptions against entries in the Register of Births.