In re J.W.

The petitioners, M.F. and C.N., are unmarried, cohabitating adults who jointly petitioned to adopt M.F.'s minor biological son, J.W. The Circuit Court ( Moran , J.) ruled that RSA 170-B:4 (2014) does not authorize such an adoption and dismissed the petition. See RSA 170-B:4 (governing who may adopt). On appeal, the petitioners argue that the trial court erred because they are eligible to jointly adopt J.W. pursuant to RSA 170-B:4, II and III. We affirm.

The relevant facts follow. M.F. is the biological father of J.W., who was born in 2007. M.F. has been in a relationship with C.N. since…