Sinnott v. Peck

At issue in this case was whether an individual who is not biologically related to a child, has not legally adopted the child, and was not married to the child’s legal parent, may be the child’s legal parent. The family division dismissed plaintiff’s petition to establish parentage of the two children legally adopted by her domestic partner, concluding that the definition of “parent” in the Vermont parentage statute did not extend to those who were not connected by biology or adoption to the child, or by marriage or civil union to the child’s legally recognized parent. The Vermont Supreme Court concluded that plaintiff’s allegations were sufficient to withstand dismissal with respect to the younger child, M.P., insofar as plaintiff has alleged that she and defendant mutually agreed to bring M.P. into their family and to raise her together as equal co-parents, and have in fact done so for many years. The Court affirmed dismissal as to G.P, and reversed as to M.P, and remanded for further proceedings. View "Sinnott v. Peck" on Justia Law