In an August 26, 2026, article published by The Daily Record, Evan Marmie was quoted discussing how contested stepparent adoption cases unfold in Maryland when a birth parent refuses to consent.
Paternity, written consent, and financial factors can influence the adoption process. However, the birth parents’ relationship with the child has the greatest impact in a stepparent adoption, the article explains. Under the 14th Amendment, parents have a fundamental right to make decisions concerning their children, but those decisions may not always align with the child’s best interests.
“Ultimately, at the end of the day, regardless of what our client wants, it’s a judge’s decision what the best interests of the child are. Those best interest standards still apply to an adoption as much as they apply to a custody battle,” Evan said.
Read the full article, “When a stepparent adoption meets resistance from a birth parent.” (PDF)
