Re the Adoption of Baeh

Baeh applied to the Family Court to have a child adopted into his family. The child's father opposed the application until the hearing, but then withdrew his opposition without consenting to the adoption orders. The child's mother did not consent to the adoption, nor did she appear at the hearing despite being notified of it. Baeh sought to have the adoption orders made in his favour and also requested that the child's name be changed to include his surname.

The court was required to determine whether the consent of the child's birth parents was necessary for the adoption and whether the adoption order should be made in Baeh's favour. The court also had to decide whether the proposed name change for the child should be approved. The welfare of the child was the paramount consideration in making these decisions.

The court found that the welfare of the child was best served by the adoption and the name change. The father's opposition had been withdrawn, and the mother's absence from the hearing, despite proper notification, indicated that her opposition was not as strong as the father's. The court held that the consent of the child's birth parents was not required in these circumstances and that the adoption order should be made in Baeh's favour. The court also approved the proposed name change for the child to include Baeh's surname. The court emphasised the importance of the child's welfare and the need for stability and security in the child's life.