Adoption of Nancy

This is an appeal from the grant of a petition to *513dispense with parental consent to adoption pursuant to G. L. c. 210, § 3. After the decrees were entered in the juvenile session of the Ayer division of the District Court Department, the father appealed to the Appeals Court, which vacated the portion of the decrees terminating the father’s parental rights. Adoption of Nancy, 61 Mass. App. Ct. 252 (2004).2 We granted the application of the Department of Social Services (department) for further appellate review to determine whether the trial judge erred in terminating the father’s parental…