Adoption of Oliver

The mother of Oliver appeals from a decree of the Probate and Family Court entered March 15, 1988, dispensing with the mother’s consent to Oliver’s adoption. It was contemplated at that time that Oliver’s foster parents would adopt him. Due to a change of counsel for the mother and to difficulties in locating the trial testimony and getting it transcribed, the appeal was not entered in this court until December 4, 1989. (Prompt briefing allowed the case to be heard March 12, 1990.) The decree provided that it should be reviewed one year from its date unless within that time a decree of…