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Adoption of de Leon, Re [1966] TTLawRp 13; 3 TTR 167 (11 May 1966)

3 TTR 167

IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION
of ROMEO B. de LEON

District Court Civil Action No. 884
Trial Division of the High Court
Ponape District

May 11, 1966

Decree of adoption of thirty-two year old was entered in the Ponape District Court. On review, the Trial Division of the High Court, Associate Justice Joseph W. Goss, held that Trust Territory law does not provide for adoption of adult.

1. Domestic Relations – Adoption

Under Trust Territory law, district court may decree adoption of minor children. (T.T.C., Sec. 706)

2. Domestic Relations – Adoption

Trust Territory law does not provide for adoption of adult. (T.T.C., Sec. 706)

GOSS, Associate Justice

[1, 2] This matter coming on for review under the provisions of Section 713 of the Trust Territory Code, it appears from the petition for adoption that Romeo B. de Leon was born October 27, 1933. Trust Territory Code, Section 706 provides for adoption of minor children by decree of the court. There is no provision in the Trust Territory Code for adoption of an adult. Therefore, it is

Ordered, adjudged, and decreed as follows:-

1. That the decree of adoption entered herein September 30, 1965, is vacated and set aside.

2. This order shall not be construed to indicate the court's position on whether an adoption of a 32 year old adult would be permissible under the law of custom of Ponape or Kusaie.