When Out-of-Home Placement and Revocation Overlap
Out-of-home placement (Article 1:253a of the Dutch Civil Code) and adoption revocation (Article 1:231 of the Dutch Civil Code) both serve the welfare of the child, but differ fundamentally. Out-of-home placement is temporary and aimed at family restoration, whereas revocation permanently severs the adoptive relationship.
Judges opt for revocation only when out-of-home placement proves insufficient.
Key Differences
1. Purpose and Duration
Out-of-home placement provides foster care or crisis accommodation with a perspective plan. Revocation aims at complete dissolution.
2. Procedure
For out-of-home placement, the Child Protection Board is involved; revocation begins with a private petition. Both prioritize the best interests of the child.
3. Consequences
Following out-of-home placement, the family bond remains intact; revocation restores the biological status.
In practice, severe situations of abuse sometimes lead to sequential measures, with Safe at Home (Veilig Thuis) as the starting point.