Title: In Re Invol. Term. of Parental Rights

State: pennsylvania

Issuer: Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Document:

487 Pa. 387 (1979) 409 A.2d 404 In re INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS TO B.M.D. and R.L.D. Appeal of Luther L. DINGUS. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Submitted October 8, 1979. Decided December 21, 1979. Roger M. Morgenthal, Carlisle, for appellant. *388 Ruby D. Weeks, Carlisle, for appellee. Before EAGEN, C.J., and O'BRIEN, ROBERTS, NIX, LARSEN and FLAHERTY, JJ. O'BRIEN, Justice. This appeal is from final decrees of the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County, Orphans' Court Division, which terminated involuntarily the parental rights of appellant, Luther L. Dingus, in his minor children, B.M.D. and R.L.D. On November 9, 1977, appellee, Cumberland County Children's Services, filed a petition to involuntarily terminate the parental rights of appellant in his two minor children. Both children were born out of wedlock to appellant and Dorothy Mae Kiner. Appellee obtained custody of the children in 1974 when the natural mother voluntarily relinquished her parental rights. At the time, appellant was incarcerated in Virginia. In 1975, appellee petitioned for the involuntary termination of appellant's rights. Following a hearing, the court dismissed the petition, finding that appellee had failed to prove adequate grounds requiring the termination of appellant's parental rights in his minor children. Appellee again petitioned for termination of appellant's parental rights in November, 1977, said petition resulting in the instant controversy. Following two continuances, granted because of appellant's inability to attend the scheduled hearing, a hearing on the termination petition was held on March 15, 1978. Though represented by counsel, appellant did not attend the hearing. On April 4, 1978, the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County, Orphans' Court Division, entered final decrees terminating the parental rights of appellant in his minor children. This direct appeal followed. Rather than reach the merits of the instant appeal, we believe the decrees must be vacated because of the Orphans' *389 Court failure to comply with the Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 3.1 of the Pennsylvania Orphans' Court Rules provides: The Rules of Civil Procedure provide: Further: Finally: In the instant case, Pa.R.C.P. 1517-1519 have been completely disregarded. No adjudication or decree nisi was entered. As no decree nisi was entered, appellant had no opportunity to file exceptions; the court, thus, had no opportunity to correct any errors prior to entry of the final decree. The "final decree" in the instant case reads as follows: As we stated in Community Sports, Inc. v. Oakland Oaks, 429 Pa. 412, 414, 240 A.2d 491 (1968): As the court in Community Sports held that the failure to comply with the Rules of Civil Procedure rendered the decree in that case a nullity, vacation of the decree was required. We believe a similar result is required. The decree below is vacated and the record is remanded with instructions that the court prepare an adjudication in compliance with Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure 1516-17, which are applicable to orphans' court proceedings. The parties then, if they so choose, may proceed in conformity with Rules 1518-19. Each party to bear own costs. MANDERINO, J., did not participate in the consideration or decision of this case. [1] Rule 31 of the Cumberland County Local Orphans' Court Rules provide: "Except where otherwise provided by a rule adopted by the Supreme Court or by an act of assembly or by general rule or special order of the local Orphans' Court, the pleading and practice shall conform to the pleading and practice in equity in the local Court of Common Pleas." By restating § 3.1 of the Pennsylvania Orphans' Court Rules, Cumberland County Orphans' Court is bound to follow the Rules of Civil Procedure relating to equity. [2] An identical decree was entered as to minor child B.M.D. [3] Rule 1518 has since been amended to require that exceptions be filed within ten days.