When is a natural parent ‘unfit’, so as to allow adoption without his/her consent?
State law determines when a natural parent is "unfit" enough to allow termination of his/her parental rights and responsibilities without his/her consent to an adoption. Once the standard set by state law (and this varies) for being found to be "unfit" is reached, a court can finalize an adoption even though the natural parent does not consent to the adoption.