Wolf v. Smith

CourtAlabama Court of Civil Appeals
Writing for the CourtHOLMES; WRIGHT, P. J., and BRADLEY
Citation414 So.2d 129
Decision Date12 May 1982
PartiesDonna Milner WOLF v. Michael SMITH and Ann Smith. Civ. 3117.

Page 129

414 So.2d 129
Donna Milner WOLF
v.
Michael SMITH and Ann Smith.
Civ. 3117.
Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama.
May 12, 1982.

Page 130

Charles W. Allen, Birmingham, for appellant.

Sam R. Shannon, Jr., and Joseph L. Boohaker, Birmingham, for appellees.

HOLMES, Judge.

This is an adoption case.

Appellees, Michael and Ann Smith, on April 21, 1981, filed with the Probate Court of Shelby County a petition for the adoption of James Zachary Milner. Along with the petition for adoption appellees filed a consent to adopt signed by Donna R. Milner, the child's natural mother and appellant in this action.

Subsequent to the above proceedings the appellant changed her mind regarding the desirability of allowing the adoption of her child. On July 3, 1981, the appellant filed with the Probate Court of Shelby County a petition to set aside the consent to adoption and a petition to dismiss the petition for adoption.

A hearing before the probate judge was held on August 17 and 18. On December 18, 1981, the probate judge entered the following order:

1. That the petition to dismiss the petition to set aside the adoption and separately and severally the petition to set aside the consent to adoption are each separately and severally denied.

The appellant appeals from the December 18 order denying the aforementioned motions. The appellees, the persons attempting to adopt, have filed with this court a motion to dismiss the appeal.

The motion to dismiss the appeal is bottomed upon the premise that the probate court's December 18 order is not such a final order as would support an appeal. We agree and dismiss the appeal.

Unless otherwise provided by law, appeals lie only from final orders or judgments. Cates v. Bush, 293 Ala. 535, 307 So.2d 6 (1975). See Davis v. Turner, 55 Ala.App. 366, 315 So.2d 602 (1975); Ala.Code § 12-22-20 (1975). Section 26-10-4 sets out the requirements for the issuance of a final order of adoption. It provides, in pertinent part, the following:

[I]f the court is satisfied that the natural parents have just cause for desiring to be relieved of the care, support and guardianship of said child, or have abandoned the child, or are morally unfit to retain its custody, that the petitioning foster parent or parents is or are financially able and morally fit to have the care, supervision and training of such child, that such child is suitable for adoption in a private family home and that such change of name and guardianship is for...

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12 cases
  • Jefferson Cnty. Dep't of Human Res. v. S.W., 2190186
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
    • October 23, 2020
    ...appeals lie only from final orders or judgments.'" C.E.C. v. C.W.C., 202 So. 3d 338, 340 (Ala. Civ. App. 2016) (quoting Wolf v. Smith, 414 So. 2d 129, 130 (Ala. Civ. App. 1982)).Page 34 "Although a juvenile court's orders in a dependency case are, in one sense, never 'final' because the cou......
  • Adkins v. William Keith Adkins., 2080744.
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
    • March 19, 2010
    ...477 So.2d 400, 403–04 (Ala.1985). ‘Unless otherwise provided by law, appeals lie only from final orders or judgments.’ Wolf v. Smith, 414 So.2d 129, 130 (Ala.Civ.App.1982). It follows, then, that the denial of a Rule 60(b) motion, because it is appealable, is a final order.” Ex parte King, ......
  • Thompson v. State ex rel. Jett, 2180977
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
    • August 28, 2020
    ...appeals lie only from final orders or judgments.'" C.E.C. v. C.W.C., 202 So. 3d 338, 340 (Ala. Civ. App. 2016) (quoting Wolf v. Smith, 414 So. 2d 129, 130 (Ala. Civ. App. 1982)). "'The appellate jurisdiction of this court extends only to final judgments.'" E.L. v. C.P., 282 So. 3d 867, 870 ......
  • Thompson v. State ex rel. Jett, 2180977
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
    • August 28, 2020
    ...from final orders or judgments.’ " C.E.C. v. C.W.C., 202 So. 3d 338, 340 (Ala. Civ. App. 2016) (quoting 318 So.3d 1229 Wolf v. Smith, 414 So. 2d 129, 130 (Ala. Civ. App. 1982) ). " ‘The appellate jurisdiction of this court extends only to final judgments.’ " E.L. v. C.P., 282 So. 3d 867, 87......
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