In re D.E.M., 254 N.C. App. 401, aff'd per curiam, 370 N.C. 463 (2018)
Held:
Affirmed
There is a dissent.
- Procedural History and Facts: In 2013, the paternal grandparents (petitioners in the TPR) were awarded primary legal and physical custody of the child through a Chapter 50 civil custody order. Respondent mother was awarded visitation in that custody order. In 2014, petitioners filed and obtained a TPR, which was vacated in 2016 by a court of appeals decision that held the petitioners lacked standing. During the pendency of that appeal, the TPR order was not stayed, and respondent mother did not visit with the child. In 2016, a new TPR petition was filed as the child had continuously resided with the petitioners for two years preceding this TPR petition. The TPR was granted, and respondent mother appeals.
- G.S. 7B-1111(a)(7) authorizes a termination of parental rights on the ground that the parent has willfully abandoned the child for at least 6 consecutive months immediately preceding the filing of the TPR petition or motion. The relevant six month time period is September 2015 to March 2016. Abandonment implies conduct by the parent that manifests a willful determination to forego all parental duties and relinquish all parental claims to the child, and a parent’s willful intent is a question of fact.
- Although there was a termination of mother’s parental rights on appeal during the relevant time period, that order did not prohibit respondent from contacting the child. The order limited her options but did not prevent her from taking whatever measures possible to show an interest in her child. Respondent mother did not seek a stay of the TPR order that was on appeal, seek visitation with the child, send gifts or letters, or pay support. Similar to an incarcerated parent with limited options, mother’s failure to attempt to show affection to her child is evidence of abandonment.
- The court may consider respondent mother’s conduct outside the relevant 6 month time period when evaluating the respondent’s credibility and intentions. Mother demonstrated almost no interest in the child since she lost custody of him in 2013. She did not contact the petitioners to schedule visitation after her single visit in December 2013 or send any gifts or support for the child despite being employed. Considering this history, the evidence of respondent’s ongoing failure to visit, contact, or provide for the child during the relevant time period allows the court to reasonably infer that she acted willfully.
Category:
Termination of Parental RightsStage:
AdjudicationTopic:
Abandonment