E.H. v. M.H.

HENDERSON, Justice.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY/ISSUES

This is an appeal from a June 2, 1992 divorce decree ordering MH (Stepfather) to pay child support for his two minor stepchildren, MAC and ARC. Stepfather further challenges the divorce court’s refusal to review a January 10, 1989 order terminating the natural father’s parental rights. We address the following:

I. Does adoption by estoppel exist in South Dakota?

II. Was the order terminating the natural father’s parental rights valid?

We decline to extend the doctrine of estop-pel under these facts and reverse. Issue II was addressed and affirmed in…