FD24P00634 - [2025] EWHC 900 (Fam)

It is apparent that X has experienced past difficulties with her mental health and that she is concerned that it would have a negative impact on her mental health in the future if steps were taken to try to identify Y’s father or provide information about Y’s birth to her relatives in South Africa. While I do not have any expert medical evidence available to me, doing the best I can, I consider that X is someone who has mental health vulnerabilities who would be likely to suffer serious emotional distress if further steps were taken against her wishes. In my judgement this is not a situation where there might be short term difficulties borne out of embarrassment or unpleasantness. X and her mother and father have gone to great lengths to conceal the pregnancy and the birth of Y, including ensuring her maternity care was given outside her home area. X has been resolute from the beginning that it was in Y’s best interests to be adopted and should I refuse to grant these applications I consider that it would represent a devastating setback for her, with potentially damaging consequences in terms of her mental wellbeing. I have weighed these matters heavily in the balancing exercise I have undertaken.

There are no particular cultural or religious factors which have been identified as impacting on the approach which I should take in this case.