J W v. D B

── J W v. D B ── Case No.: 24A-AD-00992 Court: Indiana Court of Appeals Date: November 15, 2024 Author: Judge Robert Altice County of Origin: Fulton Category: Civil Decision: Affirmed Judge Vaidik and Judge Crone concur Case Summary D.B. (Stepfather) filed a petition to adopt C.W. (Child), and J.W. (Father) filed a motion to contest the adoption. The trial court denied Father’s motion, determining that his consent was not required because he was an unfit parent and adoption was in Child’s best interests. Father appeals and asserts the trial court clearly erred when it dispensed with his consent to the adoption. We affirm. Facts & Procedural History Father and S.B. (Mother) met in 2012, while each of them was an inpatient in substance abuse rehab.