Scrivens v. Elizabeth Lund Home

This case comes before us on appeal from a denial of habeas corpus relief by the lower court. The procedures used by the Chittenden Probate Court charged with the administration of adoption proceedings are called into question.

Linda Scrivens, an adult, is the mother of an illegitimate child. She relinquished the child to the defendant, a properly licensed child placing agency, pursuant to 15 V.S.A. § 432. She now alleges the nullity of the probate court order of relinquishment as being beyond the authority of the signatory of that order. She also alleges fraud, duress, coercion and undue…