15Child to live with adopters before adoption order made
(1)Where—
(a)subsection (2) applies, an adoption order may not be made in relation to a child unless the conditions in subsection (3) are met,
(b)subsection (2) does not apply, an adoption order may not be made in relation to the child unless the condition in subsection (4) is met.
(2)This subsection applies if—
(a)the person applying for the adoption order (the “applicant”), or one of the applicants, is a parent, step-parent or relative of the child, or
(b)the child was placed with the applicant, or applicants, by an adoption agency.
(3)The conditions are—
(a)that the child is at least 19 weeks old, and
(b)that at all times during the period of 13 weeks immediately preceding the making of the order the child’s home was with the applicants.
(4)The condition is that at all times during the period of 12 months immediately preceding the making of the order the child’s home was with the applicants.
(5)In relation to—
(a)an adoption proposed to be effected by a Convention adoption order, or
(b)an adoption of a child habitually resident outwith the British Islands which is proposed to be effected by an adoption order other than a Convention adoption order,
subsection (3)(b) has effect as if the reference to a period of 13 weeks were a reference to a period of 6 months.