Re the Adoption of GJJM and Ihd

In the Family Court of Australia, the case of Re the Adoption of GJJM and Ihd involved an application for the adoption of two children by a married couple. The first child, GJJM, is the daughter of the father who opposed the adoption until the directions hearing, at which point he withdrew his opposition but did not consent to the adoption orders. The second child, Ihd, is the half-sister of GJJM, and neither the father nor the mother consented to the adoption or participated in the proceedings. The central legal issues were whether the consent of the children's birth parents should be dispensed with, and whether the proposed name changes, including the surname of the adoptive parents and the birth father of the first child, should be approved.

The court determined that the consent of the children's birth parents was not required in this case, given the non-participation of the father and the mother in the proceedings. Furthermore, the court found that the proposed name changes were in the best interests of the children. Regarding the amended Paternal Adoption Plan, the court concluded that the arrangements were proper and in the children's best interests. The court also ruled that the registration of the amended Paternal Adoption Plan should proceed, as it would mitigate the residual risk concerning the birth father's contact with the first child.

The final orders of the court were that the adoption of the two children by the married couple should proceed, and the amended Paternal Adoption Plan should be registered. The court also approved the proposed name changes, including the inclusion of the surname of the adoptive parents and the birth father of the first child.