In Re Adoption of Anthony

Stephen Arick, Sr., appellant herein, appeals from a judgment entry of the Probate Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, which held that his consent was not required for the adoption of his minor children, Stephen and Kelly, by their stepfather. The children’s mother, Arick’s former wife and now wife of the petitioner, Fred Anthony, had consented to the adoption.

On March 19, 1981, Anthony filed a petition seeking to adopt the children, and, in it, alleged that Arick’s consent was not required because he had failed without justifiable cause to communicate with the children,…