3.—(1) Upon an application in the prescribed manner by any person desirous of being authorised to adopt an infant who has never been married, the court may, subject to the provisions of this Act, make an order (referred to in this Act as an adoption order) authorising the applicant to adopt that infant.
(2) A person so authorised to adopt the infant and an infant authorised to be adopted are referred to in this Act as an adopter and an adopted child respectively, and infant means a person under the age of 21 years.
(3) Where an application for an adoption order is made by two spouses jointly, the court may make the order authorising the two spouses jointly to adopt an infant.
(4) An adoption order may be made authorising the adoption of an infant by the mother or father of the infant, either alone or jointly with her or his spouse.
(5) Except as provided in this section, no adoption order shall be made authorising more than one person to adopt an infant.