Chief executive Felicity Collier said: "These changes will have a major impact on thousands of families. We know there were people eagerly awaiting December 30 because they are an unmarried couple who would like to adopt jointly."

"This is very important at a time when too many children wait too long in temporary care waiting for an adoptive family or, in some cases, never have the chance of adoption at all."

The new act also introduces special guardianship orders which give foster carers, relatives and others caring for a child, the opportunity to apply for a special guardianship order which is expected to last until the child is 18.

Other changes include giving birth mothers and other birth relatives the legal right to ask for an intermediary service to trace an adoptive adult and find out if contact would be welcome.

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