In re the Adoption of B.L.S.

John E. Jennings, Chief Judge.

Eva Lynette Swain filed a petition in Pulaski County Probate Court to adopt her infant niece, BLS. After a hearing, the probate judge declined to grant the adoption and Ms. Swain appeals. She contends that the probate judge erred in determining that the adoption was not in the best interest of the child. We agree and reverse and remand.

At the time of the hearing Ms. Swain was twenty-two years old. The child was born on June 6, 1993, in Little Rock and shortly after birth was left with Ms. Swain to care for. The child’s mother is Zeneta Watson and her father is…