In matters involving adoption where emotions are strong factors on both sides of the case one finds a particularly vital area for practising presented law. Unless every step of the adoption is based on firm legal ground the future for natural and adoptive parents becomes hazardous, painful and sometimes tragic. There is no short cut to adoption and  Marian and Phil in this story failed to follow in good faith any of the well established steps towards a sound and final decree of adoption. It is conceivable that they might have lost their son Billy to his natural mother, at best it would have been a long and trying court battle.