no requirement in the AAR for the adoption panel to consider this change of plan, but it is good practice to ensure that the adoption panel is kept informed. Adoption applications 8.22. When the child has been placed by an adoption agency, the prospective adopter is permitted to lodge their adoption application once the child has had their home with them for at least ten weeks. In many cases the prospective adopter and the child may need a longer ‘settling-in’ period than this before they are ready to address the potential stress of court proceedings, but the timing of any application should be a matter discussed by the agency and the prospective adopters. 8.23. When a notice of application to the court for an adoption order is received, it will be necessary to check whether the record contains a notice (under section 20(4) of the Act) that the parent does or does not wish to be informed of any application for an adoption order. 8.24. Although the adoption itself will not usually be opposed by the birth parents, they will nevertheless be entitled, as respondents if they have parental responsibility and they have not given notice to the contrary under section 20 of the Act, to be given notice of the application, and to be heard if they wish on the issue of contact. It will reduce the applicant’s potential anxiety if the agency, perhaps through the independent support worker, has been able to maintain contact with the birth parent(s) and be aware of their current wishes and feelings. The parent’s support worker should, for example, have helped them to understand that they will in due course receive notice of the adoption application, and ensured that they are able to obtain legal advice if necessary. If there are unresolved issues such as disputes over contact arrangement