Case Title: In re Z.J.M.

Citation: 

Docket Number: 162A21

State: north-carolina

Court: North Carolina Supreme Court

Date: 2021-12-17T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA 
2021-NCSC-159 
No. 162A21 
Filed 17 December 2021 
IN THE MATTER OF: Z.J.M. 
 
Appeal pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-1001(a1)(1) from an order entered on 24 
March 2021 by Judge V.A. Davidian III in District Court, Wake County. This matter 
was calendared for argument in the Supreme Court on 12 November 2021 but 
determined on the record and brief without oral argument pursuant to Rule 30(f) of 
the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure.  
 
No brief for petitioner-appellee Amazing Grace Adoptions. 
 
Mary McCullers Reece for respondent-appellant father.  
 
 
NEWBY, Chief Justice. 
 
¶ 1 
 
Respondent-father appeals from the trial court’s order terminating his 
parental rights to Z.J.M. (Zeke).1 Counsel for respondent filed a no-merit brief under 
Rule 3.1(e) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure. We conclude that the 
issues identified by counsel in respondent’s brief as arguably supporting the appeal 
are meritless and therefore affirm the trial court’s order. 
                                            
1 A pseudonym is used in this opinion to protect the juvenile’s identity and for ease of 
reading. 
IN RE Z.J.M. 
2021-NCSC-159 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
 
¶ 2 
 
This case arises from a private termination action filed by petitioner, Amazing 
Grace Adoptions. In the spring of 2019, respondent and Zeke’s mother were in a 
relationship. In April 2019, the mother called respondent and told him she was 
pregnant, though respondent did not believe her. Respondent came to the mother’s 
residence where she showed him the positive pregnancy test. Respondent then left 
the mother’s residence with the pregnancy test. Afterward, respondent and the 
mother ended their relationship; they were never married. Respondent did not appear 
again until the day Zeke was born, failing to take any action during the pregnancy or 
assist the mother with expenses for prenatal care. 
¶ 3 
 
On 10 December 2019, the day of Zeke’s birth, a friend of the mother called 
respondent and told him the mother was in labor. Respondent came to the hospital 
and spent several hours there. Though respondent held Zeke and requested to sign 
the birth certificate, he did not sign anything at that time. Respondent then left the 
hospital and was unable to return. On 11 December 2019, the mother surrendered 
custody to petitioner and executed a relinquishment of her parental rights pursuant 
to N.C.G.S. § 48-3-701 (2019). Zeke was placed with his adoptive family on 19 
December 2019 when he was nine days old. In the meantime, respondent and the 
mother exchanged text messages from the time Zeke was born until January 2020. 
Though respondent inquired about Zeke, he did not provide any support other than 
paying $150 for the mother’s car repair in late December 2019. 
IN RE Z.J.M. 
2021-NCSC-159 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
 
¶ 4 
 
On 15 January 2020, petitioner filed a petition to terminate respondent’s 
parental rights. Though respondent filed an action seeking custody of the minor child 
on 19 January 2020, he did not file a petition to legitimate the child. At the 
termination hearing, petitioner submitted into evidence an affidavit from the North 
Carolina Department of Health and Human Services stating that no affidavit of 
paternity had been received. The mother also testified that she never received 
paperwork concerning a legitimation of paternity action nor any financial support 
from respondent. Respondent’s paternity has not been determined judicially or by 
scientific means. 
¶ 5 
 
Based on all the evidence, the trial court found respondent did not establish 
paternity under any of the five prongs in N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(5) (2019). Thus, the 
trial court concluded that a ground for termination of respondent’s parental rights 
existed under N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(5). The trial court also concluded it was in Zeke’s 
best interests to terminate respondent’s parental rights. Accordingly, the trial court 
terminated respondent’s parental rights. 
¶ 6 
 
Counsel for respondent filed a no-merit brief on her client’s behalf under Rule 
3.1(e) of the Rules of Appellate Procedure, identifying issues that could arguably 
support an appeal but also stating why these issues lacked merit. Counsel noted that 
the mother “was not forthcoming about her plan to put the child up for adoption.” 
Because the requirements in N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(5) are “bright line requirements,” 
IN RE Z.J.M. 
2021-NCSC-159 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
 
however, counsel concluded the trial court’s order complied with the statute. See A 
Child’s Hope, LLC v. Doe, 178 N.C. App. 96, 104, 630 S.E.2d 673, 678 (2006) (citing 
In re Byrd, 354 N.C. 188, 194, 552 S.E.2d 142, 146 (2001)) (stating that N.C.G.S. 
§ 7B-1111(a)(5) “necessarily establish[es] bright line requirements”). Moreover, 
though the mother made respondent’s access to Zeke more difficult, counsel concluded 
the trial court likely did not err in determining that termination of respondent’s 
parental rights was in Zeke’s best interests. Finally, counsel advised respondent of 
his right to file pro se written arguments on his own behalf and provided him with 
the documents necessary to do so. Respondent has not submitted written arguments 
to this Court. 
¶ 7 
 
We carefully and independently review issues identified by counsel in a 
no-merit brief filed under Rule 3.1(e) in light of the entire record. In re L.E.M., 372 
N.C. 396, 402, 831 S.E.2d 341, 345 (2019). After conducting this review, we are 
satisfied the trial court’s 24 March 2021 order is supported by clear, cogent, and 
convincing evidence and based on proper legal grounds. Accordingly, we affirm the 
trial court’s order terminating respondent’s parental rights. 
AFFIRMED.