In re Raquel Marie X.

*394OPINION OF THE COURT

Kaye, J.

The focus of these appeals, involving the adoption of newborn infants, is Domestic Relations Law § 111 (1), which provides that — while an unwed mother’s consent is always required — an unwed father’s consent to the adoption of his under-six-month-old child is required only where he has openly lived with the child or the mother for six continuous months immediately preceding the child’s placement for adoption, openly acknowledged his paternity during such period, and paid reasonable pregnancy and birth expenses in accordance with his means (Domestic Relations Law §…