Adult Adoption Upheld Despite Biological Parent Relationship

The administrative court overturned a lower authority's rejection of an adult adoption request, filed by a man seeking to adopt his two adult stepsons with whom he had a close, long-standing relationship involving care and upbringing, despite the continued existence of a relationship between the adoptees and their biological mother. The court reasoned that for the adoption of adults, the primary consideration under the relevant statute is whether the proposed adoption serves the best interests of the adoptees, and the continuing relationship with the biological parent does not fundamentally preclude the adoption, especially since the adult adoptees' self-determination rights outweigh the biological parent's interest in maintaining the legal tie, particularly as the biological mother consented and no improper motives were evident.