"The public policy of New Jersey is to protect the best interests of the child above rigid constructions of the term 'family.'"

Judge Philip Freedman aptly summarized this guiding principle of New Jersey law in a decision determining that, in appropriate circumstances, an existing parental relationship will survive an adoption by an individual who was not married to the parent, in Matter of Adoption of Child by J.M.G., 267 N.J. Super. 622 (Ch. Div 1993).