B.N.A.A. v. O.D.A.

in which Justice ROVIRA joined.

We granted certiorari in this case to clarify what must be established in a stepparent adoption regarding the likelihood of the natural parent’s payment of future child support in order for the stepparent to adopt the child. We hold that the adopting stepparent must prove the statutory requirements for adoption and the evidence, taken as a whole, must be sufficient for the court to conclude that it is unlikely that the natural parent will make future support payments on a regular and consistent basis. Because these factors have been established in this case, we…