B.B. v. P.J.M.

We address the necessity of obtaining an unmarried biological father’s consent to the adoption of his child. Florida law requires the father’s consent once he has been identified by any one of several statutorily enumerated methods. Because Appellant was identified by one of the statutorily required methods, the trial court’s order of adoption, entered without Appellant’s consent, is reversed.

Factual and Procedural Background

J.M. was born out of wedlock. At the time of her birth, both J.M. and her mother tested positive for cocaine. Her father, Appellant, was incarcerated. As a consequence of…