People State New York Ex Rel. Anonymous v. New York Foundling Hospital

Per Curiam. Sections 383 and 384 of the Social Welfare Law, read together, say that a parent who commits her child to an authorized agency by a voluntary, duly executed and acknowledged surrender instrument ""shall not be entitled to the custody"" of the child except on a court order ""determining that the interest of such child will be promoted thereby and that such parent is fit, competent and able to duly maintain, support and educate such child."" The surrender document here was voluntary and met all the statutory requirements. The courts below refused for sufficient reasons to make the factual determinations required to bring into operation the exception above quoted.