ZZ (Recognition of Foreign Step-Parent Adoption), Re

Facts

AA applied for recognition at common law of a step-parent adoption made in Thailand, approved in January 2013 and registered in February 2013. The child, ZZ, is now aged 16. His mother, MZZ, the first respondent, was a Thai citizen living in Thailand at the time of his birth and has since acquired British citizenship. ZZ's biological father, a Malaysian man who had a brief relationship with MZZ, played no part in his upbringing, met him once, and has since died; no father was registered on the birth certificate. AA and MZZ married in Thailand in February 2011 and AA brought ZZ up as his son from birth. They have another child, YY, now aged 15, and the boys were raised as brothers. The family moved to England in July 2013. The relationship between AA and MZZ broke down in 2025 and they separated; ZZ and YY now live with AA, and Children Act applications are to be heard in the Family Court. AA sought recognition so as to have standing as a parent in those proceedings, having had de facto but not legal parental responsibility. He had also sought a declaration under the Family Law Act 1986, but only ZZ can apply for such a declaration and ZZ had made no application at the time of the hearing.