IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF N.J.B.

Enid, Oklahoma family law lawyers represented the parties in an adoption action.



On April 1, 2022, Jared and Brandi Boehm jointly filed a petition seeking authorization from the district court for Brandi to legally adopt Jared and Brittney Ramirez's three minor children. Simultaneously, the Boehms filed an application which requested an order determining that the children are eligible for adoption without the consent of their biological mother. As the sole basis for this request, the Boehms alleged "[f]or twelve (12) of the last fourteen (14) months Brittney Ramirez, willfully failed, refused or neglected to contribute to the financial support of the children in compliance with [a prior order of the district court] and according to her financial ability."1 After three days of testimony on the application, the trial judge determined that the minor children were eligible for adoption without Ramirez's consent. An order to that effect was filed on May 5, 2022. Mother brought the present appeal after a final Decree of Adoption was approved and filed on September 27, 2022. In a 2-1 decision, the Court of Civil Appeals (COCA), Division I, affirmed that judgment by opinion issued on October 26, 2023.



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Reversed.