SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

FAMILY DIVISION - DOMESTIC RELATIONS BRANCH- ADOPTION

EX PARTE IN THE MATTER OF

THE PETITION OF

K.A.M. AND E.H.M.

FOR ADOPTION OF A MINOR CHILD

Adoption Case No. 25 ADA 88 Judge

Kendra Davis Briggs

NOTICE OF PENDING ADOPTION PROCEEDING,

AND ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

To: Matthew Stevens

You are hereby notified that an adoption is pending before the Superior Court of the District of Columbia concerning the minor child, born on February 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

You are ordered to appear for a Show Cause Hearing scheduled on October 30, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to show cause as to why the court should not permit the adoption without your consent on the ground either that (a) you have abandoned this child and voluntarily failed to contribute to her support for a period of at least six months before June 5, 2025, or (b) you are withholding your consent contrary to the child's best interest. See D.C. Code§§ 16-304 (d)-(e).

You have the right to seek custody of the child or to challenge the adoption. However, in order to do so, you must either appear at the Show Cause Haring or file a written objection with the Court within 20 days after you receive this notice, or at least 20 days before the date of the Show Cause Hearing, whichever date is earlier. All written objections must be sent to Family Court Central Intake Center, in Room JM-540 of the D. C. Superior Court, Moultrie Courthouse, 500

Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, or by emailing FamilyCourtCIC@dcsc.gov. If you have

any questions about filing, you may call the Family Court Call Center at (202) 879-1212.

If you fail to appear at the Show Cause Hearing or to file a written objection by the deadline explained in the preceding paragraph, the Court may conclude that you have given up any right to object to the adoption, and the Court may terminate your legal rights, responsibilities, and obligations as the parent of this child. Unless you appear for the Show Cause Hearing or file a written objection before the hearing, you may not receive notice of subsequent court action and proceedings in this case.

If you do not wish to seek custody or challenge this adoption, you may consent to the adoption, provided you do so voluntarily and of your own free will. If you do wish to consent to the adoption, please file a statement of consent with the Court at the address listed above.

You may retain a lawyer to represent you in the adoption proceeding, or if you are financially unable to do so, you may request the Court to appoint a lawyer to represent you. See D.C. Code§ 16-316.

You may also seek free assistance from the Family Court's Self-Help Center at (202) 879- 0096 or visit the Self-Help Center in Room JM-560.

NOTICE OF HEARING

You are ordered to appear for Show Cause Hearing on October 30, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. The petitioner(s) and biological parent shall appear for the hearing. The parties shall participate using one of the following methods:

1. In-person in Courtroom JM-7 at the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse, 500 Indiana Ave. NW,

Washington, DC 20004.

2. WebEx videoconference, using laptop or desktop computer: Open Google Chrome web browser, then click on, or copy and paste, the following URL below into the browser, enter your name and email address, then click Join:

https://dccourts.webex.com/meet/ctbjm7

3. WebEx videoconference, using iPad or iPhone: Go to App Store, download the WebEx App (Cisco WebEx Meetings), open WebEx App, select Join Meeting, type the URL below, enter your name and email address, then click Join:

https://dccourts.webex.com/meet/ctbjm7

/s/Kendra Davis Briggs

Associate Judge

Superior Court of the District of Columbia

Date: August 28, 2025

Run Dates:September 25th, 2025

October 2nd & 9th, 2025

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