McLaughlin v. Strickland

Bell, Judge:

This appeal involves a petition for adoption of a minor child. The natural father, Charles Ronald Strickland, appeals from an order of the Family Court denying his motion for leave to withdraw a purported Consent to Adoption and for leave to file a late answer contesting the petition. We affirm in part and reverse in part and remand.

The minor child, Candus Brooke Strickland, is Charles Strickland’s daughter by his previous marriage to the natural mother. The parents were divorced in September, 1978. The mother was granted custody of Candus. Some fifteen months after the divorce,…