Petition · Ministry of Justice

Amend Administration of Estates Act 1925 to include long term fostered children

Open for signatures 18 signatures

What the petition asks

Give children and adults who were fostered by the same parent(s) for a long time the same rights as adopted children in the rules of intestacy.
My mother was fostered in 1952. She was with the same family for over thirteen years, leaving to get married. Mum never knew her birth parents. Mum cared for her foster mum in her old age and is named on her death certificate as 'daughter'. In 2025, mum's cousin died with no spouse or children. Under intestacy rules even though mum is the only surviving relative from her foster family she is not eligible to inherit anything because she was not adopted.

Timeline

29 Jun 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 18
Status Open for signatures
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 29 Jun 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.