J.R. v. Executive Director

MARING, Justice.

[¶ 1] J.R. and S.R. appeal from the trial court’s order dismissing their petition to adopt S.E. We conclude the trial court erred by dismissing J.R. and S.R.’s petition for adoption, and we reverse and remand for the trial court to hold a hearing under N.D.C.C. § 14-15-11.

I

[¶ 2] S.E. was born in April 2009 and, on May 17, 2010, was placed in the care of S.R., S.E.’s grandmother, and J.R., S.R.’s husband. On July 14, 2011, S.E.’s biological parents voluntarily terminated their parental rights to S.E. Following the termination of the biological parents’ parental rights, S.E. was…