Court Opinion

ID: 9774693
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:30:12.712792+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:13.400631
License: Public Domain

SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION ON DENIAL OF REHEARING JULY 16, 1990 Jack Holt, Jr., Chief Justice. The petition for rehearing is denied. In doing so, we note that the wording in Ark. Code Ann. §§ 9-9-214(c) and -214(d) (1987) is plain and unequivocal and provides, in pertinent part, as follows: (c) If. . . the court determines that the required consents have been obtained or excused and that the adoption is in the best interest of the individual to be adopted, it may (1) issue a final decree of adoption .... (d) If the requirements for a decree under subsection (c) have not been met, the court shall dismiss the petition and determine the person to have custody of the minor, including the petitioners if in the best interest of the minor. . . . (Emphasis added.)  As we pointed out in our majority opinion, adoptions were unknown to the common law, and they are governed entirely by statute. In this instance, the law provides that the court shall dismiss the petition and determine the person to have custody of the minor, including the petitioners if in the best interest of the minor.