In Re Byrd

LAKE, Chief Justice.

The question presented for review in this case is whether the consent of a putative father must be obtained before an adoption may proceed when the putative father has conditioned his acknowledgment of fatherhood and support of mother and child upon proof of biological paternity. The Court of Appeals held that the putative father’s consent was not required under the circumstances of the case. In re Adoption of Byrd, 137 N.C. App. 623, 632, 529 S.E.2d 465, 471 (2000). For the reasons set forth below, we uphold this result.

The circumstances of this case as they developed…