In Re the Adoption of Baby Boy C.

Petrich, A.C.J.

The conflicting interests of the natural father and those of prospective adoptive parents to a child born out of wedlock are the subject matter of this appeal. Two issues are raised. The first issue, raised by the prospective adoptive parents as appellants, is whether the individual thought to be the child's father when proceedings to terminate his parental rights were initiated, ancillary to an adoption, is to be treated as an alleged father or a parent where, after the proceedings were initiated but before the hearing on the termination of his rights, he was judicially…