In Re Athena D.
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The Appellants, maternal grandparents of “Athena D.,” appealed an order of the probate court that dismissed their petition for grandparent visitation for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The court also denied their motion to stay the adoption of Athena while they pursued their petition for visitation and denied their request to order the child’s adoptive parents to allow their continued visitation. The Division for Children, Youth and Families initial plan was for the grandparents to adopt Athena; however, for various reasons, they withdrew from consideration. The court then found that it was in the best interest of Athena to deny the grandparents’ petition. Upon review, the Supreme Court determined the probate court indeed lacked subject matter jurisdiction to hear their appeal. The Court found that the probate court’s conclusion to place the child with her eventual adoptive family was not an unsustainable exercise of discretion. Accordingly, the Court affirmed the probate court’s decision.
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