Dаvid and Sharon Remmen, foster parents of a child designated in previous litigation in this court as “B.M.,” appealed from an interlocutory decree of adoption granted to William and Janice Schneider by the district court of Stark County. We affirm.
The circumstances surrounding the birth and care of B.M. have been previously disсussed in
In Interest of B.M.,
At the hearing on July 18, S.L.M. testified that she would consent to terminating her parental rights in favor of the Schneid-ers. 1 On July 22, 1983, at the final hearing, the district court stated that it would grant the Schneiders’ petition and that it would allow the Remmens to retain custody until July 27, 1983. The court issued an interlocutory decree of adoption on July 27, 1983. The Remmens filed a motion to alter or amend the decree and also sought a stay of execution of the district court’s decree. The district court denied the motion but granted a stay of execution for a period of two weeks. The Remmens then sought a stay of execution in this court, which was denied. This appeal fоllowed.
Before proceeding to the merits of the appeal we consider the contention of the guardian ad litem that because the Rem-mens have appealed from an interlocutory *128 decree of adoption and not a final decree of adoption this court should dismiss this appеal.
In adoption proceedings the right to appeal is governed by Section 14-15-15, N.D.C.C., of the Revised Uniform Adoption Act, which provides, in part:
“14-15-15. Appeal and validation of adoption decree.
“1. An appeal from any final order or decree rendered under this chapter may be taken in the manner and time provided for appeal from a judgment in a civil aсtion.”
The Remmens broadly construe the statute by emphasizing the unique nature of adoption proceedings. To interpret Section 14-15-15(1) this court may consider the decisions of States that have also adopted the Uniform Adoption Act. 2 See Section 14-15-21, N.D.C.C.
In
Matter of Appeals From Adoption Orders,
"... (1) a final decree may be granted upon the initial aрplication, or (2) a final decree may be granted after a hearing and after six months have lapsed from the date of the interlocutory decree, or (3) the interlocutory decree may become a final decree by its own terms without a final hearing.”277 Ark. at 520-521 ,642 S.W.2d at 573 .
The court held that a decree of adoption would be appealable, even if it is interlocutory, if no subsequent hearing is required by the terms of the decree. 3
The Revised Uniform Adoption Act provides that “[i]n an interlocutory decree of adoption the court may provide for observation, investigation, and further report on the adoptive home during the interlocutory period.” [Emphasis supplied.] Rev. Unif.Adoption Act § 13(d), 9 U.L.A. 41. See Section 14-15-13(4), N.D.C.C.; see also Ark.Stat.Ann. § 56-214(d). Under the Act a court thus has discretion in determining if a subsequent hearing is necessary when it issues an interlocutory decree. A court may decide to delay a hearing for the purpose of permitting further investigation or supervisiоn rather than to issue an interlocutory decree that requires a subsequent hearing. Rev.Unif.Adoption Act § 13, Commissioner’s Note. Under certain circumstances a court cannot immediately issue a final decree. See Rev.Unif.Adoption Act § 12, 9 U.L.A. 39; Section 14-15-12, N.D.C.C.; Ark.Stat.Ann. § 56-213. When issued, however, “[a]n interlocutory decree of adoрtion, ... has the same legal effect as a final decree of adoption.” Rev.Unif. Adoption Act § 14(c), 9 U.L.A. 45; Section 14-15-14(3), N.D.C.C.; Ark.Stat.Ann. .§ 56-215(c). An interlocutory decree of adoption that does not require a hearing after its issuance thus resembles a final decree of adoption in many important respects. Under such circumstances a party should not need to wait six months for the interlocutory decree to ripen automatically into a final decree. We therefore find persuasive the Arkansas Supreme Court’s interpretation of the right to appeal in adoption proceedings.
In the present case the interlоcutory decree of adoption does not state that a subsequent hearing is required but does provide that on February 1, 1984, a few *129 days more than six months after its issuance, the decree was to become final. The Remmens therefore have the right to appeal from the interlocutory decree of adoption.
The Remmens argue that in adoption proceedings this court has de novo review. They contend that standard of review provided by Rule 52(a), N.D.R.Civ.P., that findings of fact shall not be set aside unless clearly erroneous, is not applicable in adoption proceedings. 4 The Schneiders brought their petition for adоption and termination of parental rights pursuant to the Revised Uniform Adoption Act.
In
Pritchett v. Executive Dir. of Soc. Serv. BcL,
In the present case this court is not asked to review the termination of S.L.M.’s or the father’s parental rights under the Revised Uniform Adoption Act, but rather to review the district court’s decision that adoption by the Schneiders is in B.M.’s best interests.
This court has recognized that “[t]here is a vast difference between granting ‘custody’ in a divorce action and the ‘termination of parental rights.’ ” Kottsick v. Carlson,
In
Voth v. Voth,
The Remmens further argue that the findings of fact required by Rule 52(a), N.D.R.Civ.P., are grossly inadequate. They maintain that this court should consider the district judge’s statements during the final hearing. The district court had stated that it appeared that bonding had occurred between the Remmens and B.M. *130 and that once bonding has occurred experts do not know the degree of stress or trauma a child would experience upon separation from its psychological parents.
Generally, this court reviews the document labeled “findings оf fact.”
Schmidt v. Plains Elec., Inc.,
Findings of fact are adequate if they provide the reviewing court with a clear understanding of the basis of the trial court’s decision.
Tuffv. Tuff,
We believe that these detailed findings of fact are adequate because they provide us with a clear understanding of the basis of the district court’s decision. We therefore need not consider the district court’s statements during the final hearing. If we were to consider such statements they would not alter our conclusions herein.
Finally, the Remmens argue that the district court erred in dеtermining that the granting of the Schneiders’ petition is in B.M.’s best interests. The Remmens, who cared for B.M. from December 8, 1982, to August 10, 1983, argue that the district court failed to recognize that they were B.M.’s psychological parents. They maintain that this court should consider the bonding that occurred between the Rem-mens and B.M. during that period but not the bonding that subsequently may have occurred between the Schneiders and B.M.
Section 14-15-13, N.D.C.C., provides- that the court may issue an interlocutory decree of adoption “[i]f at the conclusion of the hearing the Court determines that ... the adoption is in the best interests of the individual to be adopted, ...” The Revised Uniform Adoptiоn Act does not specify factors a court should consider in determining a child’s best interests.
At the hearing various experts testified about the concept of bonding, the central concept in the book Beyond the Best Interests of the Child. See J. Goldstein, A. Freud, A. Solnit, Beyond the Best Interests of the Child (1973). None of the experts had actually observed the Remmens with B.M. to determine if bonding had occurred. The district court stated in its findings that “[according to the experts who testified, [B.M.] is reaching a crucial time when she will begin to form attachments to those who care for and nurture her.” The court in its oral recitation stated that even though it had read Beyond the Best Interests of the Child, the thesis of the book would not control the disposition of the case because the North Dakota Legislature had not adopted statutes similar to the ones discussed in the book. The Remmens argue that the court failed to recognize that as foster parents they are in essence “common-law adoptive parents.”
This court believes that bonding is not necessarily the dispositive factоr in determining whether or not to grant an adoption petition. See, e.g.,
In re Davis,
— Pa. —, —,
“Some authorities, particularly those with a psychoanalytic orientation, take the pоsition that continuity is absolutely critical, particularly in very early childhood. See, e.g., J. Bowlby, Attachment and Loss, Vol. I: Attachment (1969), Yol. II: Separation, Anxiety and Anger (1973); J. Goldstein, A. Freud, A. Solnit, Beyond the Best Interests of the Child, especially at 31-52 (“On Continuity, a Child’s Sense of Time, and the Limits of Both Law and Prediction”) (1973). Others dispute this, maintaining that1 children are developmentally much more resilient. See, e.g., A. and A.C.B. Clarke, Early Experience: Myth and Evidence (1976); J. Kagan, R. Kearsley, P. Zelazo, Infancy: Its Place in Human Development (1978); M. Rutter, Maternal Deprivation Reassessed (1972). We are not required to settle this scientific dispute.
■ It is enough to say that cоntinuity is an important consideration at every age.” [Emphasis supplied.]
See also J. Wallerstein and J. Kelly, Surviving the Breakup: How Children and Parents Cope With Divorce (1980) [authors’ viewpoint differs from the thesis of Beyond the Best Interests of the Child].
In the present case the district court properly recognized the importance of continuity: It viewed continuity in terms of the goal of finding a permanent home for B.M. When the court announced its decisiоn, S.L.M. still had the right to withdraw her consent to the adoption. By granting the Schneiders’ petition the court knew that S.L.M. agreed to the adoption. The director of Stark County Social Services testified that, in his opinion, B.M. should be placed with a licensed placement agency, which might decide to award custody of B.M. to a third party. Presumably such a procedure would further delay a permanent placement of the child.
The findings of fact also reveal that the Schneiders are able to provide a suitable home for B.M. The Schneiders are well established in their community and are economically stable. The guardian ad litem also testified that it is in B.M.’s best interests to grant the Schneiders’ petition. We believe that the district court did not err in determining that granting the Schneiders’ petition was in B.M.’s best interests.
Although we recognize the disappointment that the Remmens feel, we believe that “[t]he main purpose of adoption is to find homes for children, not children for families.” See
In re Harshey,
The interlocutory decree of adoption is affirmed.
Notes
. The district court determined that the consent of the natural father was not required because lie had abandoned the child.
. In 1971 the North Dakota Legislature adopted the 1969 Revised Uniform Adoption Act. 1971 N.D.Sess.Laws, Ch. 157, § 1. This Act or the earlier 1953 Uniform Adoption Act has been adopted by Arkansas, Montаna, New Mexico, Ohio, and Oklahoma. See 9 U.L.A. 1 (Supp. 1983).
. In
Webb v. Wiley,
. In two earlier adoption cases the parties agreed that Rule 52(a), N.D.R.Civ.P., provided the proper standard of review. See
Mortenson v. Tangedahl,
. In Arkansas the appellate court reviews the record de novo but will not reverse the probate judge’s decision unless it is clearly erroneous and against the preponderance of the evidence, after giving due regard to the judge’s opportunity to determine the credibility of the witnesses. See
Chrisos v. Egleston, 1
Ark.App. 82,