Opinion ID: 6320243
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: August 2016 through April 2018

Text: Trial testimony indicated that after J.R.S.’s August 2016 birth she lived with Dale and Samantha until about June 2017. Samantha’s mother testified that Samantha and J.R.S. lived with her from June until November 2017. Samantha’s father testified that J.R.S. then lived with him until approximately April 2018. The parties dispute whether Dale had contact with J.R.S. between June 2017 and spring 2018. Dale testified that he had several video chats with J.R.S. between 2 See AS 25.23.050(a)(1)-(2) (enumerating exceptions to requirement for biological parents’ consent to child’s adoption). -3- 7585 June and November, but Samantha’s mother testified that, although Dale and Samantha had been in contact, she could not remember seeing or hearing from Dale while J.R.S. lived with her. Dale testified that in January 2018 he started an oilfield job in North Dakota, working a varying schedule of weeks in the field and returning to Alaska for his time off. Dale testified that in late January or early February 2018 he had visited Samantha and J.R.S. a few times and that they went to a park or shopping, but Samantha’s father testified that he did not see Dale from November 2017 to April 2018. The superior court found that Dale had contact with J.R.S. prior to April 2018.