Opinion ID: 2520814
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Relinquishments May be Terminable upon the Failure of a Contemplated Adoption.

Text: The point that the condition is irrelevant because it will not occur is, in my opinion, a sufficient response to the majority's position that the conditional nature of the relinquishment would require the present adoption to be set aside. But I also believe that properly understood the condition is permissible for the reasons that follow. An opinion of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, In re Adoption of a Minor, [10] contains a useful analysis of a questioned condition in an adoption context. In that case the natural mother consented to the adoption of her child by the adoptive parents on condition that they will give me visitation rights.... [11] Although the adoptive parents allowed visitation, the natural mother attempted to withdraw her consent to adoption and petitioned for return of the child. She contended that her consent was unenforceable because it was conditional and therefore did not satisfy the requirements of Massachusetts law and was against public policy. [12] The Massachusetts court, in an opinion authored by the distinguished jurist and law professor, Robert Braucher, held that the questioned condition did not invalidate the consent. The court first observed that the condition must be given a practical construction making it subject to the overriding interest in the welfare of the child. Justice Braucher wrote: We think that the mother in this case sought, not a legal assurance of visitation rights overriding all requirements of the welfare of the child, but a practical assurance of the cooperation of the petitioners so long as visitation rights were not contrary to the interests of the child. She got what she sought. If she had not tried to withdraw her consent, a decree of adoption might have been entered incorporating the agreement. Such a decree would not be void. But it would not prevent the supreme inquiry as to the requirements of the welfare of the child.[ [13] ] As so construed, the court found the condition not to be against public policy. But the court went on to observe that if the condition were found to be against public policy, the condition would be unenforceable, but the consent to adoption would still be valid: If the agreement had provided for a legal right overriding the welfare of the child, it would at least to that extent be against public policy, but the result would be that the offending provision would be unenforceable, not the consent to adoption. Otherwise, the overriding policy serving the welfare of the child would be frustrated.[ [14] ] I believe that the condition in this case must be construed at all times to be subject to the overriding interest in the welfare of the child. It should also, in my judgment, be given a practical construction similar to that employed by the Massachusetts court in In re Adoption of a Minor. What it contemplated was that the Wilsons would go forward with the adoption, but if the adoption failed it was understood that they would not stand in the way of the resumption of custody by the natural mother. As so construed, the condition is fully consistent with existing remedies that are available following the failure of a contemplated adoption. There are three principal remedies for failed adoptions. The first is contained in AS 25.23.180(g). [15] This subsection contains a provision that permits a parent to withdraw her relinquishment if the child is not on placement for adoption with the consent of the party having custody of the child. The second remedy is contained in AS 25.23.120(d). This subsection requires the court, upon determining that an adoption petition must be denied, to decide who should have custody of the child, considering the child's best interests. [16] A voluntarily terminated parent is not excluded from the group of potential custodians under this section. [17] The third remedy is found in Civil Rule 60(b) (permitting relief from judgments in defined circumstances). A relinquishing parent, like any other litigant, may avail herself of the remedies provided by Civil Rule 60(b). [18] Relief is sometimes afforded under this rule's catch-all clause, 60(b)(6) (any other reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment), when in important ways a fundamental assumption underlying the basis for consenting to a judgment has been destroyed. [19] Construed reasonably and practically, the condition in question fits readily within these remedies. If the Wilsons were to have a change of heart after accepting custody of the child or if their adoption efforts failed and the child was therefore no longer on placement for adoption, subsection .180(g) would be applicable. Subject to considerations of the best interests of the child, the understanding reflected in the relinquishment that the natural mother would resume custody could be realized. If the adoption was actually denied, AS 25.23.120(d) would also apply and the court would have to determine, considering the best interests of the minor, who would have custody of the minor. In such a proceeding the Wilsons' cooperation with the efforts of the natural mother would be expected, though it might be of little importance given that their adoptive efforts would already have been refused. As to the potential 60(b) remedy, the condition reflects a fundamental assumption that exists in most private party adoption cases, namely that the parties to whom the child is relinquished for adoption would adopt the child. Even when not made a condition, one would expect that this would be the assumption of the relinquishing parent. Upon the failure of such an assumption, Rule 60(b)(6) relief should be available. Since this could be the case even if the assumption were not expressed as a condition, the fact that the condition is expressed should not make a difference. The same relief should be available either way. In short, I believe that the expression of the understanding that if the Wilsons did not adopt the child the relinquishment would be voided, when given a reasonable and practical construction, is consistent with and, at most, facilitates the remedies that would be available in any event to the natural mother. It is therefore unobjectionable. It is undisputed that relinquishments that are subject to withdrawal upon the failure of specified parties to adopt a particular child have long been used in Alaska adoption practice. The State of Alaska acknowledges that the Division of Family and Youth Services has allowed conditional relinquishments in the past. Currently the policy and procedure manual of the division still contemplates that parents may relinquish their parental rights with the understanding that their child will be adopted by a specific person. The division treats this understanding as subject to the welfare of the child. [20] Our case law reflects the use of conditional relinquishments. In In re J.L.F. the state negotiated a conditional relinquishment with the biological mother which, eventually, the biological mother refused to sign. [21] This refusal was found by the superior court to be a reason in support of the superior court's finding under AS 25.23.180(c)(2) that the biological mother had unreasonably withheld her consent to adoption. [22] In In re Adoption of F.H. a relinquishment conditioned on adoption by particular prospective adoptive parents was employed. [23] An adoption in favor of these prospective parents would have amounted to a deviation from the ICWA preferences. [24] The superior court held that the conditional nature of the relinquishment was one reason why good cause existed for deviation from the ICWA preferences, because otherwise there would be much uncertainty concerning the child's future. [25] We upheld the court's reliance on the conditional nature of the relinquishment. [26] The historic use of conditioned relinquishments in Alaska is relevant in considering whether the Alaska Statutes should be construed as prohibiting the practice. The meaning attached by people affected by an act may have an important bearing on how it is construed. [27] In addition, adopting parties and their counsel have relied on this practice, its recognition by the courts, and the fact that it has never been questioned, in structuring adoptions. This reliance is also a reason favoring a permissive construction: One of the soundest reasons sustaining contemporaneous interpretations of long standing is the fact that the public has relied on the interpretation. [28] Such an interpretation is also called for by the applicable rule of construction that Alaska's adoption statutes should be construed to promote the best interests of adopted children and avoid disrupting adoptive placements. [29] I also believe that the law of contracts provides an applicable analogy that should guide our decision as to whether the current relinquishment is unenforceable. Under contract law, whether a contract or a part of a contract is unenforceable entails a balancing of the interests for and against enforcement. [30] In weighing the interest in enforcement, account must be taken of the justified expectations of the parties, any forfeiture that would result if enforcement were denied, and any special public interest in enforcement. In weighing the public policy against enforcement, account must be taken of the strength of the policy against enforcement, the likelihood that a refusal to enforce will further that policy, the seriousness of any misconduct, and the directness of the connection between any misconduct and the questioned provision. Viewing the relinquishment as a whole, the interest in its enforcement readily outweighs any public policy against its enforcement. First, all parties justifiably expected that the relinquishment would be enforceable. Second, the forfeiture involved is the severance of the bonded parent/child ties that have developed between the child and the Wilsons. This is an extraordinarily strong interest. Relatedly, the special public interest involved is the public interest in the stability of adoptive placements. This too is an extraordinarily strong interest. I am at a loss to express what the public policy might be against enforcement of the relinquishment. No judicial decision of this court has ever expressed a policy against conditional relinquishments. The two cases on which the majority opinion relies from other jurisdictions [31] express the view that there can be no conditional relinquishment under the statutes in their respective states, but they express that conclusion without giving reasons. The only public policy reason offered by the majority is that relinquishments have shorter periods for their withdrawal than do consents, [32] but this reason challenges the use of relinquishments in all adoptions, and has nothing to do with the conditionality of relinquishments. [33] I had assumed, at least provisionally, that a defeasing condition such as we have here might be felt to be undesirable because it potentially interferes with the stability of an adoptive placement. But this is not likely to be the case because the relinquishment would not be revoked until and unless the placement failed to lead to adoption. It is the failure, not the condition, that would cause the instability. Turning to the second relevant factor of section 178(3) of the Restatement, we can ask whether refusal to enforce the relinquishment will further the policy of stability of adoptive placements. The answer to that question is that just the opposite will occur where, as here (and as will commonly be the case), the contemplated adoption actually occurs. The policy of stability in adoptive placements is furthered by enforcing the relinquishment. Ironically, refusing to enforce the relinquishment causes instability. As to the third factor, there is no misconduct in this case. It is therefore apparent that the balance of relevant factors clearly favors the conclusion that the relinquishment is not unenforceable on grounds of public policy. Another point should also be made. In light of the clear preponderance of interests favoring upholding adoptive placements, if the condition in this case were found to be against public policy, the condition should not be enforced, but this should not affect the validity of the relinquishment. As the Massachusetts court stated, if the agreement were against public policy, ... the result would be that the offending provision would be unenforceable, not the consent to adoption. Otherwise the overriding policy serving the welfare of the child would be frustrated. [34] In summary, the understanding expressed in the relinquishment in this case did not render the relinquishment invalid. Properly construed, it is consistent with remedies that the law provides to a relinquishing parent upon the failure of a contemplated adoption and is therefore unobjectionable. Further, similar provisions have long been used and recognized in Alaska without critical comment, and parties have relied on this practice. The practice does not violate public policy when one considers the relevant factors that should be considered in determining whether a provision is unenforceable on grounds of public policy. This interpretation satisfies the applicable rule of construction that Alaska's adoption statutes should be construed to promote the best interests of adopted children and to avoid disrupting adoptive placements. Finally, even if the questioned condition were against public policy, the appropriate remedy would be to declare the condition to be unenforceable but not the relinquishment.