Steltzlen v. Fritz

¶ 1 This only question presented by this appeal is whether the trial judge abused her discretion in denying petitioner’s application to adopt the minor child J.E.D. without the consent of her natural father, Greggory Fritz.1 The trial judge found that the petitioner concealed the child from Greggory Fritz and that the petitioner failed to prove willful failure to support or maintain a substantial relationship on the part of the father. The trial judge denied the application to declare the child eligible for adoption without the father’s consent. We find no abuse of discretion and affirm the…