Family Matters: Court Grants Adoption to Loving Step-Parents in Heartwarming Decision

Event and Time

The case involves a mother and her step-father seeking leave to commence adoption proceedings for her child, X, born in 2021.
The mother and step-father are also seeking orders for equal shared parental responsibility for the child, as well as orders for the child to live with them.
The biological father of the child has never met the child and has consented to the orders sought.

The mother and step-father applied for leave to adopt the child and for shared parental responsibility.
The application was supported by the biological father, who consented to the proposed orders.
The application was heard in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia on May 12, 2023.

The court granted leave for the mother and step-father to commence adoption proceedings.
The court ordered that the mother and step-father have equal shared parental responsibility for the child.
It was also ordered that the child live with the mother and step-father.
All extant applications related to the matter were dismissed.

Claim by Mother and Step-father: The applicants presented a unified front, seeking the best interests of the child by ensuring a stable and nurturing family environment through adoption and shared parental responsibility.
Biological Father's Position: The biological father, who has had no contact with the child, consented to the proposed orders, indicating no opposition to the adoption or shared parental responsibility.
Legal Framework: The application was made under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), specifically referencing section 60G(1) for leave to adopt and guidelines on parental responsibility.