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Judge approves step-parent adoption after judge finds father failed to support children
Summary
A Tennessee judge terminated a noncustodial parent's rights and granted a step-parent adoption for two children after evidence showed only a single court-ordered payment and no regular contact; the stepfather and two witnesses testified in support.
A Tennessee judge signed an order terminating the biological parent's rights and approving the step-parent adoption of two children, Carson and Cash. Mother Caitlin Dupree told the court the biological father made only one court-ordered payment in April and had not maintained contact; Judge David D. Wolfe said the evidence supported termination and that adoption was in the children’s best interest.
Stepfather Justin Dupree, who described having parented the children for six years and identified himself as on active duty, told the court he had provided daily care and would accept financial responsibility if the adoption is granted. Two family witnesses, Ken Wentworth and Michael Estrada, confirmed the truthfulness of the parents’ statements. The judge concluded: "It is in the best interest of the [children] and that the adoptions take place," and signed the order granting the adoption.
The judge cautioned the adults about the permanence of adoption and described the legal changes that follow the entry of the adoption decree. The court directed the clerk to issue the adopted-children certificates and closed the docket on the item pending ministerial entry of the order.
