Provisions as to existing de facto adoptions

Where at the date of the commencement of this Act any child is in the custody of, and being brought up, maintained and educated by, any person or two spouses jointly as his, her or their own child under any de facto adoption and has for a period of not less than two years 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 child a female, make an adoption order authorising him, her or them to adopt the child without requiring the consent of any parent or guardian of the child to be obtained, upon being 80 satisfied that in all circumstances of the case it is just and equitable and for the welfare of the child that no such consent should be required and that an adoption order should be made.