Adoption of H.M. CA2/6

FACTS

H.M. was born in December 2018, as a result of a brief sexual encounter between J.M. (Mother) and G.L. (Father). Mother and Father never married or cohabitated. Father was initially unaware of H.M.’s birth.1 Mother struggles with her mental health and was unable to care for H.M. Mother requested help from A.F. and N.F., her aunt and uncle (Petitioners). When H.M. was six weeks old, he began sleeping at Petitioners house. On November 26, 2019, Mother placed H.M. in Petitioners’ care. H.M. has resided with Petitioners since. On December 17, 2019, Mother signed an affidavit giving Petitioners temporary guardianship over H.M. until December 15, 2020. Mother visited H.M. fairly often. In March 2020, the Petitioners’ household was stricken with COVID-19. H.M. went to live with Mother while Petitioners’ family quarantined. On April 4, 2020, however, the sheriff and child protective services removed H.M. from Mother and returned him to Petitioners because Mother had threatened to kill herself and H.M. Petitioners obtained emergency temporary guardianship of H.M. on April 17, 2020. Thereafter Petitioners obtained permanent guardianship over H.M. Mother

1 In January 2021, Mother…