Adoption of a Minor

We granted the plaintiffs’ application for further appellate review of a probate judge’s "dismissal” of a petition for adoption and change of name, brought pursuant to G. L. c. 210, § 3, subsections (a) (ii) and (c), as appearing in St. 1972, c. 800, § 2. The pertinent facts are set forth in the decision of the Appeals Court, 6 Mass. App. Ct. 665 (1978). Having examined the record before us, we agree with the majority of the Appeals Court that there was no error. We comment briefly, however, on the principal issue raised by the plaintiffs in their application for further review.

Ordinarily,…