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Helen and Susan lived together in a committed relationship for more than ten years. They jointly purchased a home, and both women are physicians. They planned to have children and eventually those efforts resulted in Susan's birth of Tammy on April 30, 1988. Since birth, the child has lived with both parties. They have strong emotional ties. The biological father does not participate in parenting Tammy nor does he support her. The father has signed adoption surrender papers and supports the adoption by both women. The parties were well aware of the potential pitfalls related to such an adoption particularly if they separated from their current relationship. All parties to the adoption who investigated it concluded that the adoption should take place. The trial court allowed the adoption but sought judicial approval from higher courts to secure the decree from attack on jurisdictional grounds.

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