Sachs v. Walzer

Undercofler, Presiding Justice.

In this case, we consider the effect of adoption by a child’s stepmother on the court-ordered visitation rights of the deceased mother’s parents. When the child’s mother, who had custody of her under a divorce decree, died, custody reverted to the father, who obtained the child by court order from her maternal grandparents. They later filed a petition in the nature of habeas corpus claiming the father was unfit and seeking visitation. Visitation rights were granted. The child was then adopted by her father’s new wife. The grandparents filed this contempt action…