Wadkins v. Holcom

BRIGHTMIRE, Judge.

The dispositive question for review is whether the trial court — in passing on a stepfather’s application to permit his petition for the adoption of his minor stepson, B.R.H., to go forward without the consent of the child’s natural father — has jurisdiction to “terminate” the parental rights of the objecting father.

The trial court held it did have and entered an order terminating the father’s parental rights.

We hold the court did not have such jurisdiction and vacate the order.

I

Chris Wadkins, stepfather of B.R.H., a minor son of respondent Bobbie L. Holcom, initiated this…