AQW 42494/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 13/03/2026
Answered On Date: 10/04/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any processes that are available to children in care wishing to change their surname to that of their foster guardians without consent of their birth parent.

Answer:

Under the provisions of The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, the name of a child in care cannot be changed by any person without the written consent of everyone who has parental responsibility for the child, or by leave of the courts. Any child wishing to change their name without the permission of any birth parents who retain parental responsibility would need to apply to the courts to seek permission for the change.