In Re Adoption of R.B.F.

OPINION

Chief Justice ZAPPALA.

These consolidated appeals raise the issue of whether the Adoption Act requires a legal parent to relinquish his or her parental rights in cases where a same-sex partner seeks to adopt the legal parent’s child. We hold that Section 2901 of the Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 2901, affords the trial court discretion to determine whether, under the circumstances of a particular case, cause has been shown to demonstrate why a particular statutory requirement has not been met. As Appellants’ adoption petitions were summarily dismissed, they did not have the opportunity to…