Chrisos v. Egleston

James R. Cooper, Judge.

The appellant, the stepfather of Jason Lewis Chrisos, sought to adopt him without the consent of the appellee, the child’s natural father. The appellant relied on Ark. Stat. Ann. § 56-207 (a) (2) (Supp. 1981), which states:

Consent to adoption is not required of. . .a parent of a child in the custody of another, if the parent for a period of at least one [1] year has failed significantly without justifiable cause (i) to communicate with the child or (ii) to provide for the care and support of the child as required by law or judicial decree. . .

The trial court denied the…