Petition of the Department of Social Services to Dispense With Consent to Adoption

A judge of the Probate Court reserved and reported two issues raised by the natural parent (mother) 2 at a hearing on the Department of Social Services’ (department) petition to dispense with consent to adoption. G. L. c. 210, §3 (b). At the outset of the hearing the department disclosed to the court the identity of the prospective adoptive family and filed a motion “to compel persons not to reveal the identity of pre-adoptive parents.” 3 The mother filed a motion to dismiss the department’s petition. The judge denied the department’s motion and stayed the effect of the action pending appeal.…