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In re Ashlee II.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Dec 24, 1997
245 A.D.2d 885 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)

Opinion

December 24, 1997

Appeal from the Family Court of Chenango County (Hester, Jr., J.).


The parties were married in August 1989. In June 1992, petitioner consented to respondent's adoption of her daughter (born in 1988). Upon the parties' divorce in 1995, petitioner commenced this proceeding pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 114 (3) to, inter alia, vacate the order of adoption on the basis of duress and coercion. Family Court dismissed the petition without a hearing and this appeal ensued.

We agree with Family Court that the allegations in the petition are insufficient to substantiate duress and coercion which would warrant the revocation of petitioner's consent to the adoption (see, Matter of Sarah K, 66 N.Y.2d 223, 242, cert denied sub nom. Kosher v. Stamatis, 475 U.S. 1108). Nor do these allegations provide a legal ground upon which the order should be vacated (see, Domestic Relations Law § 114; Matter of Kevin G., 227 A.D.2d 622, 623; Matter of Martz, 102 Misc.2d 102, 114, affd sub nom. Matter of Jessica XX., 77 A.D.2d 381, affd 54 N.Y.2d 417, affd sub nom. Lehr v. Robertson, 463 U.S. 248). As such, a hearing is not required (see, Matter of Baby Boy Joseph, 214 A.D.2d 1049). Although petitioner alleges that respondent physically and mentally abused her and her daughter throughout the marriage, there are no allegations that any particular threats or abuse were used to obtain petitioner's consent. Furthermore, respondent's alleged threats with respect to depriving the child of food and clothing do not constitute duress where respondent was under no legal obligation to provide such necessities prior to the adoption.

Finally, in these circumstances, where petitioner did not surrender her parental rights upon consenting to her spouse's adoption of her daughter, and notwithstanding her assertions that she did not receive a thorough explanation of the gravity of such consent, compliance with the statute has been met (see, Domestic Relations Law § 115-b). The order of adoption indicates that petitioner, who was represented by counsel, specifically consented to such adoption.

Mikoll, J. P., Mercure, Crew III and Yesawich Jr., JJ., concur.

Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs.


Summaries of

In re Ashlee II.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Dec 24, 1997
245 A.D.2d 885 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)
Case details for

In re Ashlee II.

Case Details

Full title:In the Matter of ASHLEE II., an Infant. CASSANDRA HH., Appellant; KEVIN…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department

Date published: Dec 24, 1997

Citations

245 A.D.2d 885 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)
666 N.Y.S.2d 826

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