Matter of Adoption of Maynor

CLARK, Judge.

Respondent contends that the petitioners presented insufficient evidence of willful abandonment to withstand the respondent’s motion for directed verdict.

G.S. 48-2(3a) provides:

“For the purpose of this Chapter, an abandoned child shall be any child who has been willfully abandoned at least six consecutive months immediately preceding institution of an action or proceeding to declare the child to be an abandoned child. . . .”

“[Abandonment imports any wilful or intentional conduct on the part of the parent which evinces a settled purpose to forego all parental duties and relinquish…