Opinion ID: 1711854
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: positions of appellants and state

Text: Contending that the county court erred, appellants argue that the plain language of the adoption statute at § 43-101(1), which provides that any minor child may be adopted by any adult person or persons, permits adoption of the minor child, Luke, by A.E.; the biological parent B.P. need not relinquish her parental rights in order for A.E. to adopt Luke; and the proposed adoption is in Luke's best interests. Appellants advance various constitutional arguments not considered here for the reasons outlined above. Contending that the county court was correct, the State argues that the adoption statutes read as a whole do not provide that two nonmarried persons may jointly adopt a minor child and that the adoption statutes only provide for adoption of a child without the relinquishment of a biological parent's rights in the case of a stepparent where a spouse is the adopting party. The State advances various constitutional arguments not considered here for the reasons outlined above.