The applicant sought to adopt his adult step‑daughter pursuant to the Child and Family Services Act.
The court reviewed jurisprudence on adult adoptions and identified four governing criteria: the adoption must create a genuine change in the relationship, the parties must understand and intend the legal incidents of adoption, the application must respond to a psychological or emotional need for a parental relationship, and the adoption must enhance and strengthen the relationship.
The evidence established a long‑standing de facto father‑daughter relationship and a parental gap caused by the limited involvement of the biological father.
The court concluded that formalizing the relationship through adoption would strengthen family bonds and provide permanence and stability.
The adoption order was granted.