Case Citation
Legal Case Name

In Re Adoption of M Case Brief

New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division1998Docket #892269
722 A.2d 615 317 N.J. Super. 531 1998 N.J. Super. LEXIS 529

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: An adult adoptee successfully petitioned to vacate her adoption judgment concerning her adoptive father to enable their marriage and legitimize their biological child, citing “truly exceptional circumstances.”

Legal Significance: Establishes that a final judgment of adoption may be vacated under “truly exceptional circumstances,” particularly to protect the best interests of a subsequently born child of the adoptee and adoptive parent.

In Re Adoption of M Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Petitioner M was adopted at age fifteen. Years later, after reaching adulthood (age twenty-two), M and her adoptive father conceived a child. At the time of conception, M was twenty-one, and her adoptive father was still married to her adoptive mother, though they later divorced. M and the adoptive father desired to marry to legitimize their infant child and their relationship. However, New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 37:1-1) prohibits marriage between an individual and their ancestors or descendants, a category which includes adoptive parents and children (N.J.S.A. 9:3-50(b)). M filed a motion to vacate the final judgment of adoption as to her adoptive father, more than six years after its entry. The adoptive mother did not oppose the vacation as to the adoptive father but wished her adoptive relationship with M to remain. The primary motivation for vacating the adoption was to remove the legal impediment to marriage and to avoid the social stigma and complex legal status for the newborn child, who would otherwise be the natural child and legal grandchild of the adoptive father.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Under what circumstances may a court vacate a final judgment of adoption years after its entry, particularly when the adult adoptee seeks to marry the adoptive parent with whom she has conceived a child?

Yes, the court granted the petitioner’s motion to vacate the final judgment Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat c

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IRAC Legal Analysis

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Legal Issue

Under what circumstances may a court vacate a final judgment of adoption years after its entry, particularly when the adult adoptee seeks to marry the adoptive parent with whom she has conceived a child?

Conclusion

This case underscores the judiciary's equitable power to vacate adoption judgments in Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate veli

Legal Rule

A final judgment of adoption may be vacated under N.J. Ct. R. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, su

Legal Analysis

The court reasoned that while finality in adoption judgments is a strong Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit ani

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • Court vacated an adult adoptee’s adoption by her adoptive father. -
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco labor

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