Opinion ID: 2254901
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The effect of the June 2004 certificate under Cambodian law

Text: Whether, under Cambodian law, LMB validly adopted John Doe in June 2004 was a major issue below, generating a duel between experts at trial and occupying a large part of the Surrogate's decision. But there is no need for us to examine this question in similar detail here. The Surrogate concluded that, under Cambodian law, the June 2004 certificate evidenced not just permission to adopt but a full and final adoption; and that neither LMB's failure to participate in a giving and receiving ceremony nor the absence of approval of the adoption from Trinidad and Tobago altered the Cambodian-law effect of the adoption. We find the Surrogate's reasoning on these issues to be compelling, and ERJ has not challenged the Surrogate's resolution of the Cambodian law question in this Court. We are satisfied that, under Cambodian law, LMB validly adopted John Doe in June 2004.