No Need for Consent of Biological Father in Adoption Proceeding

In a decision by Justice Rick, the Third Department affirmed the adoption of a child without the consent of the biological father:

A  biological father’s consent to adopt a child over six months old  who was  born out of wedlock is required only if the father “maintained substantial and  continuous contact with the child as manifested by”  payment  of reasonable  child support and either monthly visitation or regular communication with the child or custodian (Domestic Relations Law  § 111 [1] [d]).”Only after the [biological] father establishes his right of consent to the adoption, by satisfying both the support and  communication provisions of the statute, does the court proceed to determine whether he has forfeited that right by evincing ‘an intent to forego his . . . parental . . . rights and  obligations'” as outlined in Domestic Relations Law  § 111 (2) (a)… . Matter of John Q v Erica R, 514216, 3rd Dept 3-28-13