. . . An adoption order may be made on the application of one person where he has attained the age of 21 years and—
(a) is not married, or
(b) is married and the court is satisfied that—
(i) his spouse cannot be found, or
(ii) the spouses have separated and are living apart, and the separation is likely to be permanent, or
(iii) his spouse is by reason of ill-health, whether physical or mental, incapable of making an application for an adoption order.
An adoption order shall not be made on the application of one person unless—
(a) he is domiciled in a part of the United Kingdom, or in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, or
(b) the application is for a Convention adoption order and the requirements of regulations under section 17 are complied with.
An adoption order shall not be made on the application of the mother or father of the child alone unless the court is satisfied that—
(a) the other natural parent is dead or cannot be found or, by virtue of section 28 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, there is no other parent, or
(b) there is some other reason justifying the exclusion of the other natural parent,
and where such an order is made the reason justifying the exclusion of the other natural parent shall be recorded by the court.
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