In re Anonymous

John D. Bennett, S.

Petitioner applies to adopt Ms stepcMld, the only issue of a prior marriage between his wife and the respondent, the father of the child. The respondent’s objection to the adoption requires a dismissal of this proceeding unless the petitioner has sustained his burden of proving the allegation of respondent’s abandonment of the child (Domestic Eelations Law, § 111; Matter of Anonymous, 9 Misc 2d 420; Matter of Paden, 181 Misc. 1025).

The child’s mother and the respondent were married on June 17, 1951. Initially the couple resided at an apartment in Manhattan where the rent…