Court Reverses Boy’s ‘Divorce’ From Mother

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A boy had no legal right to “divorce” his biological mother because he is a minor, a state appeals court ruled Wednesday. However, the court upheld a lower court’s termination of the woman’s parental rights on grounds of abandonment.

The 5th District Court of Appeal also reversed on procedural grounds Shawn Russ’ adoption by the attorney who helped the boy sever his relationship to his biological mother. It sent the adoption case back to the trial court for further proceedings.

Shawn, known as Gregory K. during last year’s court battle, made national headlines when, claiming neglect and abandonment, he sought a “divorce” from his biological mother, Rachel Kingsley.

Juvenile Court Judge Thomas Kirk had ruled that the boy, now 13, had standing to sue his biological mother for divorce. After a trial, the judge severed Rachel Kingsley’s parental rights and permitted the boy to be adopted by George Russ. Russ acted as the boy’s attorney after befriending him in a boys’ home where he had been placed by his mother.