D'AUGUSTINE v. Bush

Lewis, Chief Justice.

This is an adoption proceeding and the issue on appeal is whether the lower court erred in holding that appellant, the natural father, had abandoned his minor son so as to permit the son’s adoption without his consent.

Respondent, Judy Kay (Bush) D’Augustine, and appellant were married in 1966 and lived in Alabama until their divorce in July 1970. A son, Steven Guy Bush, was born to the marriage in 1967. The divorce decree awarded custody of the infant son to the mother with the right to appellant to have the child visit with him from Thursday afternoon to Saturday…