S. R. v. M. J.

Riley, Judge.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Appellant-Respondent, S.R. (Mother), appeals the trial court’s decree of adoption of her biological child, C.J. (Child), by Appellee-Petitioner, M. J. (Stepmother).

We reverse and remand.

ISSUE

Mother raises four issues on appeal, one of which we find dispositive and which we restate as follows: Whether Mother knowingly and voluntarily waived her right to counsel at the adoption hearing, where the trial court failed to impress upon her the serious consequences she faced if she represented herself.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Mother and E.J. (Father) are the…