Nguyen v. McGraw

The aunt of an adopted child appeals a supplemental judgment in an adoption case in which the trial court awarded attorney fees and costs to the adoptive mother. Aunt contends that the trial court erred in awarding attorney fees to mother. We agree and reverse.

Both aunt and mother sought to adopt child. The court entered a judgment that made mother the parent of the child and gave aunt the right to visit child “for no less than five (5) hours per week, with time expanding as the child matures.”

Eighteen months after the court entered the judgment, aunt filed three motions in the adoption case…