Roy v. Speer

TATE, Judge.

This is an adoption proceeding. The grandparents of a little girl, age five, apply to adopt her. The grandparents appeal from the dismissal of their petition.

This appeal concerns essentially a question of statutory interpretation. In Louisiana, ordinarily a child cannot be adopted without at least the initial consent of each living parent.1 However, by LSA-R.S. 9:422.1, in certain instances the consent of a parent who has failed to support a child is not required for the child’s adoption by its grandparents or step-parent.

At issue here is the interpretation of this twice-amended…