NY Adoptive Mother Wins Full Custody Over Birth Parent In Same-Sex Legal Battle

[obamanut2012]

"In what is believed to be the state's first such ruling for a same-sex couple, a New York judge has awarded full custody of a child to her adopted mother rather that her biological parent.

The New York Post reports that Manhattan real estate attorney Allison Scollar defeated television producer Brook Altman for custody and decision-making authority of a six-year-old girl after a brutal court battle.

Manhattan Judge Gloria Sosa-Lintner praised Scollar, 50, as "the more responsible parent looking out for the child’s best interests, not her own interests” while describing Altman, 47, as having behaved "more as a friend or older sister than a responsible parent.""

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/01/allison-scollar-new-york-adoption-legal-battle-ruing-_n_1929047.html


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Worth it to read the entire article.

[MADem]

1. Horrible article!!

NY case, illustrated with a UK birth certificate! WTF??

No word on if the bio mother got visitation. I think that's probably an important aspect of this case; a parent can have visitation rights without having custody.

Why not discuss this aspect of the ruling, rather than two paragraphs pasted on at the end about gay-haters and objections to same-sex parents?

[Lex]

2. Glad to see the court recognizes that an adoptive parent IS a real, legal parent

and custody can be placed with an adoptive parent over a biological parent. Even in cases of same-sex couples. What is best for the child should always be paramount.

Now we just need to have equal adoption rights in all states.

[obamanut2012]

3. Agreed -- it's good for two reasons

A friend's stepfather was granted custody over his mother, because his mom was abusive and an addict. This was quite a while ago, and was unusual, because he was a stepparent and a man, but my friend's entire family testified that he was a good guy, which he was and still is, and would raise my friend in a loving, safe, and supportive home, which he did.