V.L. v. E.L.
United States Supreme Court
136 S. Ct. 1017 (2016)
- Written by Rose VanHofwegen, JD
Facts
V. L. (plaintiff) and E. L. (defendant), two women, were in a long-term relationship. The couple decided to have a child, and E. L. gave birth. E. L. later gave birth to twins as well. The couple raised the three children together. A Georgia court entered an adoption order, making V. L. the children’s legal parent. V. L. and E. L. moved to Alabama and later separated. V. L. petitioned an Alabama court to enforce the Georgia court’s adoption ruling. V. L. sought custody or visitation rights. The Circuit Court of Jefferson County awarded V. L. visitation rights. The Alabama Supreme Court reversed, declining to enforce the Georgia ruling on the ground that the Georgia court did not have subject matter jurisdiction over the adoption due to a Georgia law prohibiting adoption of a child with a living parent unless the living parent surrendered her rights to the child. The United States Supreme Court granted V. L.’s petition for certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)
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