Section 10

Where at the commencement of this Ordinance any infant is in the custody of, and being brought up, maintained and educated by any person or two spouses jointly as his,

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her or their own child under any de facto adoption, and has for a continuous period of not less than one year immediately before such commencement been in such custody, and been so brought up, maintained and educated, the Court may, upon the application of such person or spouses, and notwithstanding that the applicant is a male and the infant a female, make an adoption order authorising him, her or them to adopt the infant without requiring the consent of any parent or guardian of the infant to be obtained, upon being satisfied that in all the circumstances of the case it is just and equitable and for the welfare of the infant that no such consent should be required and that an adoption order should be made.

Power to make rules and procedure.