North Carolina Lawyers Weekly
Even if relator-Mother Mabe and defendant Mabe were not married when Mother’s child was born, defendant did not file a proper motion to challenge a prior adjudication of paternity under G.S. § 49-14(h) because his motion did not identify any ...
Read More »Domestic Relations — Child Support – Paternity – Appellate Jurisdiction
Domestic Relations — Termination of Parental Rights – Neglect – Minimal Progress on Case Plan – Child’s Preference for Adoption 
The trial court properly made conclusions of law that grounds existed for termination of parental rights where all the trial court’s findings of fact had a sufficient basis in the evidentiary record and were relevant to the trial court’s analysis. ...
Read More »Domestic Relations — Termination of Parental Rights – Neglect – Failure to Visit – Failure to Provide for Needs
The trial court properly found grounds for terminating parental rights where it had already adjudicated the child neglected and found that parent’s failure to make progress on his reunification plan was indicative of the likelihood of future neglect if the ...
Read More »Domestic Relations — Termination of Parental Rights – Jurisdiction – Determination of Child’s Best Interests
The county agency of the county where a child was presently located had standing to file a neglect petition where the child had not yet lived outside North Carolina long enough for another state to become his home state. We ...
Read More »Domestic Relations — Termination of Parental Rights – Failure to Make Progress – Failure to Contribute to Costs of Care – Sufficiency of Evidence
The trial court erred in terminating parental rights where it failed to state the standard of proof it used in adjudicating findings of fact and where petitioner’s evidence was insufficient to support finding any grounds for termination. We reverse the ...
Read More »Domestic Relations — Termination of Parental Rights – Neglect – Dependency – Exposing Children to Sexual Abuse
Parent’s long documented history of allowing individuals with sexual abuse convictions unsupervised access to her children and refusing to acknowledge the abuse of her children supported termination of parental rights. We affirm the trial court’s judgment terminating respondent’s parental rights ...
Read More »Domestic Relations — Termination of Parental Rights – Failure to Provide Financial Support – Willful Abandonment – Sufficiency of Findings
Termination of parental rights was in error where trial court failed to make detailed findings of fact in support of finding grounds for termination. We vacate and remand the termination of respondent’s parental rights due to the insufficiency of the ...
Read More »Domestic Relations — Termination of Parental Rights – Sufficiency of Evidence – Best Interests Determination
The trial court properly found grounds for termination of parental rights where parent’s refusal to acknowledge substance abuse problems or remain consistent with treatment created likelihood of future neglect due to the safety issues posed by parent’s substance abuse. We ...
Read More »Domestic Relations — Termination of Parental Rights – Neglect – Abuse
The record supported termination of parental rights on grounds of abuse and neglect where parent failed to comply with mental health treatment obligations or to secure and maintain stable housing and childcare. We affirm the trial court’s order terminating respondent’s ...
Read More »Domestic Relations — Termination of Parental Rights – Neglect – Abandonment – Sufficiency of Evidence
The trial court erred in terminating parental rights on grounds of neglect and delinquency where it failed to resolve factual issues concerning whether parent’s lack of contact was willful or the result of interference by the child’s guardians, or whether ...
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