1 ... S eeTe x. R. App . P. 47. 4.
2 ... Pur suantt o T exas Ru l e ofA ppel l at e Pr ocedu r e 9. 8( b) ( 2) , w e use al i as esf ort he nam esoft he chi l dr en.



## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 8 - 0 3 4 - CV
IN T H E IN T E R E S TO FJ .R .S , J .L .S ., AN D B. L . N. S.

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FR O M THE 90TH DI STRI CT CO URT O F YO UN G CO UN TY

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### M E M ORANDU M OP I NI ON 1

----- ----- -- I . I nt r oduc t i on A ppel l antM el i ssa S. appeal s t he t r i al court ’ s j udg m entt er m i nat i ng her p a r e n t a l rig h t s t o h e rt h r e e c h ild r e n — J u lia , J a m e s , a n d B e t h a n y(c o lle c t i v e ly

“ c h i l d re n ” ). 2M el i ssa ar gues t hatt he t r i al courter r ed by f ai l i ng t o gr anther3 ... Ja m es , w ho i s Bet o’ s so n, w asbor n t w o a nd o n e -ha l fm ont hs

pr em at ur e, w ei ghi ng app r oxi m at el y t w o pou nds, t hi rt een oun ces. 2 m o ti o n for c o n ti n u a n c e , th a t t h e e v i d e n c e i s l e g a l l yan d fac tu a l l yi n su ffi c i e n t t o su pportt he t r i al co urt ’ s f am i l y c od e se ct i on 161. 001 ( 1) t er m i nat i on gr ound f i ndi ngs , an d t hatt he evi den cei s l ega l l y and f ac t ual l y i ns uf f i ci entt o s upportt he t r i al court ’ s f i ndi ng t hatt er m i nat i on of M el i ssa’ s par ent al r i ghtst o t he chi l dr en i si n th e c h i l d re n ’s b e s t i n te re s t. W e a ffir m .

I I . Fa ct ualan d Pr oce dur alBac kground A tage f i f t een, M el i ssa gave bi rt h t o Jul i a. M el i ssa l i ved w i t h herm ot her i n In d i a n a w h e n J u l i a w a s b o rn . M e l i s s a l a s t s a w J u l i a ’s fa th e r, E n ri q u e O ., w hen s h e w aspr egn antw i t h Ju l i a. M el i ss a s i gne d a pr ovi si ona l cu st ody
a g r e e me n t t h a t a l l o we d h e r mo t h e r t o ma k e v a r i o u s d e c i s i o n s f o r J ul i a, w ho
wa s d i a g n o s e d wi t h e p i l e p s ya ta g e f i v e . J u l i a wa s s i x t e e n y e a r s o l d a tt he t im e o ft r ia l. M e l i s s a wa s s i x t e e n y e a r ’ s o l d wh e n s h e , J u l i a , a n d M e l i s s a ’ s m ot her
m ove d t o Lou i si ana . Ther e, s t i l l atag e s i xt ee n, M el i ss a m etan d m ar r i ed G eor ge G . M e l i ss a su b se q u e n tl yse p a rate d fr o m G e o rge G ., m o v e d to D a l l a s, m e t B e to M ., h a d a t w o -y e a rre la t io n s h ip w it h B e t o , a n d g a v e b irt h t o J a m e s in J u ly 19 95 i n Loui si ana. 3 M el i ssa l ear ned af t er Jam es’ s bi rt h t hat G eorg e had3

di vor ce d he r . M el i ss a i s una w ar e of Bet o’ s w her ea bout s. Ja m esw ast w el ve y e a r s o ld a tt h e t im e o ft r ia l. M el i ss a m ove d ba ckt o Dal l as abo ut a yea raft erJa m es ’ s bi rt h. Ju l i a a nd Jam es r em ai ned i n t he car e of M el i ssa’ s m ot her . I n N ovem ber 19 97 , M el i ssa g a v e b irt h t o h e rt h ir d c h ild , B e t h a n y , b a c kin L o u is ia n a . A tt r ia l, M e lis s a c o u ld
n o t a rti c u l a te B e th a n y ’s fa th e r’sn a m e , n o r d i d s h e k n o w w h a t h e d i d fo r a l i vi ng, de sp i t e c l ai m i ng t o ha ve had a t w o- yea rr el at i ons hi p w i t h hi m . Bet han y
w a s t e n y e a r so ld a tt h e t im e o ft r ia l. M e lis s a n e v e rg r a d u a t e d f r o m h ig h s c h o o l. S h e liv e d w it h h e rm o t h e rin L ou i s i a na a f t e rBe t ha nyw a s b or n. Sh e d i d n o t h a vea j ob , b uts hed r e w SSI b e n e fi ts a n d re c e i v e d W IC p a y m e n ts a n d M e d i c a i d . A p p ro x i m a te l yfo u r y e a rs aft erBet han y’ s bi rt h, M el i ss a m ove d bac k t o Texa s “t o l i ve on her ow n, ” and sh e w or ke d a s a w a i tre s s . Jul i a, Ja m es , an d Bet han y r em ai ned i n L oui si ana
u n d e r M e l i s s a ’s m o th e r’sc a re . M e l i s s a l e ft th e c h i l d re n i n h e r m o th e r’sc a re because M el i ssa di d not have t he m eans t o t ake car e oft hem , and she knew t hatt hey w oul d hav e a r oofove rt hei rhe ads . M el i ss a v i si t ed t he chi l dr en and
se ntt hem m one y. A f t er l i vi ng i n D al l as f or appr oxi m at el y ei ghteen m onths, M el i ssa m oved bac k t o L oui si ana t o l i ve w i t h her m ot her bec aus e her m ot herw ass i ckan d s he4 ... Jul i a suf f er ed sei zur es. 5 ... Lest erM . i s M el i ssa’ s uncl e. 4 needed hel p car i ng f orJul i a. 4M el i ssa di d not have a j ob w hen she m oved b ack t o Loui si ana. I n O ct ober20 02 , M el i ssa’ s m ot herand t he chi l d ren m oved to G r aham , T e x a s , to l i v e w i t h V i c k i e a n d L e s te r M . 5because M el i ssa’ s m ot herw as si ck
a n d n e e d e d c a r e . M e lis s a h a d la s t s ig n e d a p r o v is io n a l c u s t o d y a g r e e m e n tin 20 01 , and she w as “pi ssed” aboutt he m ove becau se she “ di dn’ thave a say atal l ” i n herm ot her ’ s deci si on t o m ove t o T exas w i t h t he c h il d re n . M el i ssa ca l l e d Le gal A i d a nd t he Sher i f f ’ s D epa rt m entf oras si st anc e. How eve r , s he
nev erw entt o Tex ast o pi ckup t he chi l dr en, an d s he eve nt ua l l y “ l e t i tgo” b e c a u s e s h e “ k n e w [h e r ] m o m c o u ld t a k e c a r e o f [t h e c h ild r e n ]. T h e yw e r e in good han ds . ” M el i ss a m o v e d to D a l l ast w o w ee ksl at er . M el i ss a v i si t ed t he
c hi l dr e n i n Dec e m be r2002 . M e l i s s a ’s m o th e r d i e d i n M a rc h 2 0 0 3 . T h e re a fte r, V i c k i e a n d L e s te r M . f i l ed sui t , and t he t r i al courtsi gned an or deri n S ept em ber20 03 t hatappoi nt ed t h e m a n d M e lis s a jo in tm a n a g in g c o n s e r v a t o r s o f t h e c h ild r e n a n d g a v e V ic k ie and Le st e r M . th e e xcl us i ve r i ghtt o de si gna t e t he pr i m ary r es i den ceoft he chi l dr en w i t hi n Young Count y . Vi ck i e a nd L es t erM . ha d c ar e, cu st ody, an d6 ... M e l i s s a te s ti fi e d th a t s h e h e a rd fa m i l y v i o l e n c e i n v o l v i n g o n e o r m o re

oft he chi l dr en occur r ed atV i cki e and Lest erM . ’ s r esi dence. 5 con t r ol oft he chi l dr en. The o rd eral so r equ i r ed M el i ss a t o pa y t o Vi ck i e a nd Lest erM . m onthl y chi l d suppo rti n t he am oun t of $1 00 , and i taw ar ded M el i ssa
m o n thl y vi si t at i on w i t h t he chi l dr en. M el i ss a d i d notm ak e t he chi l d su p p o rt paym ent s. Af t e re nt r y oft heo r de r , M e l i ss a v i s i t e d t hec hi l dr e n i n Ju l y 2004, D ecem ber20 04 , and Jul y 20 05 . She h a d l i t t l e orno t r ansport at i on t hat al l ow ed hert o vi si tt he chi l dr en. V i ck i e M . t ol d he rt hats he cou l d nots eet he
c h i l d ren , a n d M e l i ss a d i d n o t ha v e en o u g h m o n e yto h i re a n atto rne yto
r epr esentheri nt er est s r egar di ng t he chi l dr en. M el i ssa, how ever , neverm oved to G rah a m to b e clos e to h e r ch i l d ren . A c c o r d in g to h e r, “I di d n ’tw a n t t o [m o v e to G ra h a m ]. I w a n te d to l i v e e l s e w h e re .” A ppel l ee, t he T exas D epart m entofFam i l y and P r ot ect i ve S e rv ic es ( “TDFP S ” ), r em ove d t he chi l dr en f r om V i ck i e a nd L es t erM . ’ s r es i den ceon A u g u s t 3 , 2 0 0 6 , a f t e r V ic k ie M .— c la im in g t h a t s h e w a s h a v i n g t r o u b le
con t r ol l i ng t hem an d t hats he cou l d notha ndl e t hem an ym or e— del i ver ed t he chi l dr en t o T D FPS . Fol l ow i ng an i nvest i gat io n , TD FPS f oun d t hatt her e w as “r eason t o bel i eve” f orphysi cal abu s e a n d f ort he r ef usal ofpar ent al
r es pons i bi l i t y. 6M el i ssa adm i t t ed t hat w hen V i cki e M . t ur ned t he chi l dr en over7 ... M el i ssa di d not vi si tt he chi l dr en bet w een July 2 0 0 5 a n d O ct ober

2006. 6 t o T D F P S , M e lis s a “ d id n o th a v e t h e m e a n s o fa liv in g , n o , I d id n o t . A n d I d id not w antt hem [ t he chi l dr en] i n m y possessi on a t th e t i m e anyw ay because I d i d n ’t h a v e n o w h e re e l s e to p u t th e m a s fa r a s h o u s e h o l d .” M e l i ssa part i ci pat ed w i t h T D FPS t o devel op a ser vi ce pl an. She took a psychol ogi cal exam ear l y i n t he case, butshe di d not com pl et e her pl an ( w hi ch i ncl uded t aki ng anotherpsychol ogi cal exam and com pl et i ng par ent i ng cl asses and co uns el i ng s es si ons ) unt i l t he l att erpa rtof2007 , aft eran ex t ens i on. Af t e rt hec hi l dr e n’ s r e m ov a l , M e l i s s a m ov e d t o Hous t on i n Ja nu a r y 2007; sh e m ove d t o I r vi ng i n l at e Feb r uary 2007; s he m ove d t o O kl aho m a i n M ar ch, A pr i l , orM ay 20 07 ; and she m oved b ack t o I r vi ng i n Jul y 20 07 . M el i ssa vi si t ed t hec hi l dr e n on c e i n O c t ob e r2006 a nd o nc e i n Dec e m be r2007 . 7 S h e fai l e d to
s ho w u p f or vi s i t s w i t h t he c hi l dr e n on Fe br ua r y 1, 2007, a nd Se pt e m be r11, 200 7, a n d s h e co nt end ed t hatt he t r i al co urtpr ohi bi t ed herf r om vi si t i ng t he
c hi l dr e n f r om l a t e F e br ua r y 2007 t o Ju ne2007 . Tri al w as t o t he bench i n Janu ar y 20 08 . M el i ssa t est i f i ed t hatshe l i ves
w i t h Cher yl S. ( her “g odm ot her ”) , t hats he had s t art ed w or ki ng a ta r es t aur ant t hr ee m onths bef or e t r i al , and t hat she had appl i ed f orhousi ng w i t h t he D al l as8 ... The t r i al co urtal so t er m i nat ed t he par ent al r i ght s ofal l t hr eeoft he

al l ege d f at her s oft he chi l dr en. 7 H ous i ng Aut hor i t y, buts he ac kno w l edg ed t hats he doe s notha ve t r ans port at i on and t hatshe does nothave a pl ace f ort he chi l dr en t o l i ve. The t r i al co urts ubs equ ent l y s i gne d a n or dert er m i nat i ng M el i s s a ’s par ent al r i ght s t o Jul i a, Jam es , an d Bet han y. 8 The t r i al cou rt f ound by cl ea ran d convi nci ng evi dence t hat t er m i nat i on of M el i ssa’ s par ent al r i ghtst o t he chi l dr en
w as i n t he chi l dr en’ s besti nt er estand t hatM el i ssa had ( 1) know i ngl y pl aced
orknow i ngl y al l ow ed t he chi l dr en t o r em ai n i n cond i t i ons orsur r oun di ngs t hat end ang er ed t hei rphy si ca l orem ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng, ( 2) en g age d i n c onduc tor know i ngl y pl aced t he chi l dr en w ith per sons w ho eng aged i n cond uctt hat
e n d a n g e r e d t h e c h ild r e n ’s p h y s ic a l o re m o t io n a l w e ll-b e in g , ( 3 ) c o n s t r u c t iv e ly
a b a n d o n e d th e c h i l d re n , a n d (4 ) fa i l e d to c o m p l y w i th th e p ro v i s i o n s o f a c o u rt
or dert hats pec i f i ca l l y e st abl i sh ed t he ac t i onsne ce ss ary f orhe rt o obt ai n t he
re tu rn o f th e c h i l d re n . S ee T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ), (N ), & ( O ) , 161. 001 ( 2) ( V er non 200 8) . The t r i al co urtf urt heror der ed t hatTD FPS be appo i nt ed per m ane n t m a n a g i ng con servat oroft he chi l dr en. Thi s appeal f ol l ow ed. I I I . M ot i on f orC onti nuan ce8

I n h e r f i rst i ss u e , M e l i ss a arg u e s th a t t h e tr i a l co u r t e r r e d b y fai l i n g to gr antherm ot i on f orcont i nuan ce. Sh e cont ends t hatshe di d not r ecei ve pr oper no t i c e o ft hef i na l t r i a l s e t t i ng a s r e qu i r e d byTe xa s Ru l e o fCi vi l Pr oc e du r e 245 be c a us e n e i t he rs hen orh e ra t t or ne y w e r e p r e s e nta ta n O c to b e r 5 , 2007 per m ane ncyhe ar i ng w hen t he f i r stnot i ceoft he f i nal t r i al se t t i ng w asm adean d be c a us e h e ra t t or ne y, w ho s hes t a t e s w a s a pp oi nt e d on Dec e m be r11, 2007 , d i d n o t re c e i v e n o ti c e “ u n ti l s o m e d a te i n D e c e m b e r a fte r D e c e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 0 7 .” R u l e 2 4 5 p ro v i d e s i n p a rt a s fo l l o w s : The C our tma ys e tc o n t e s t e d c a s e s o n wr i t t e n r e q u e s to fa ny part y, or on t he cou rt ’ s ow n m ot i on, w i t h r ea so nab l e n ot i ceofnot l es s t han f ort y- f i ve day s t o t he part i es of a f i r sts ett i ng f ort r i al , or by agr eem entoft he part i es; pr ovi ded, how ever , t hatw hen a case pr evi ousl y has been set f or t r i al , t he C ourt m ay r esetsai d contes t ed ca set o a l a te r d a t e o n a ny r ea so nab l e n ot i cet o t he part i esorby agr eem entoft he part i es. T e x . R . C i v . P . 2 4 5 . T h e fo rty -fi v e d a y n o ti c e p ro v i s i o n i s m a n d a to ry . Cus to mCrete, I nc. v. K
-Bar S ervs. , I nc. , 8 2 S .W .3 d 6 5 5 , 6 5 9 (T e x . A p p .— S a n A n t o n io 2 0 0 2 , n o p e t.). B u t i t a p p l i e s o n l yto th e fi rs t s e ttin g o f th e tri a l . S ta teF a rm Fi re & Cas. Co. v. Pr

i ce , 845 S. W . 2d 427, 431– 32 ( Te x. App . — Am a r i l l o 1992,
w r i tdi sm ’ d) . W het her t he t r i al court gr ant s or deni es a m ot i on f orcont i nuan ce i sw i th i n i ts s o u n d d i s c re ti o n . See BM C Soft ware Bel g. , N. V . v. Marchand, 83 S .W .3 d 7 8 9 , 8 0 0 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ). A t r ia l c o u rta b u s e s it s d is c r e t io n if it a c t s in
an ar bi t r ary o r u n rea so nab l e m ann er , w i t houtr ef er enc e t o gui di ng r ul esan d9

p ri n c i p l e s . D owner v. A quam ar i ne Operators, I

nc. , 701 S. W . 2d 238, 241– 42 (T e x . 1 9 8 5 ), cert. denied, 4 7 6 U .S . 1 1 5 9 (1 9 8 6 ). Th e t r i al courtsi gned a per m anency hear i ng or der on June 22 , 20 07 , t hat setO ct ober5, 20 07 , as th e fi nal t r i al dat e. The orderi ndi cat es t hatM el i ssa “appear ed i n per son and ann oun c e d re a dy. ” O n O ct ober5, 20 07 , t he t r i al
cou rts i gne d a pe r m ane ncyhe ar i ng or der th a tr es ett he f i nal t r i al da t e f or J a n u a r y 1 4 , 2 0 0 8 . T h e o r d e rd o e s n o ti n d i c a t e t h a tM e l i s s a wa s p r e s e n t . On O c to b e r 2 4 , 2 0 0 7 , th e tri a l c o u r t si g n e d an o rde r ap p o i n ti n g J e ff E a v e s to
r epr es entM el i ss a. M el i ss a s t at esi n he rbr i eft ha t h e r l a w yerdi d notr ec ei ve noti ce oft he t er m i nat i on m at t er“unt i l som e t i m e i n D ecem beraf t erD ecem ber 11, 2007 . ” Th e t e r m i na t i on t r i a l c om m e nc e d on J a nu a r y 14, 2008 . B e c a u s e J u n e 2 2 , 2 0 0 7 , w a s n o t l e s s th a n fo rty -fi v e d a y s b e fo re J a n u a ry 1 4 , 2 0 08 , M el i ssa r ecei ved no t i ce oft he fi rst t r i al sett i ng as requ i r ed byr u le 2 4 5 . S ee Tex . R. C i v. P. 24 5. A ssum i ng t hatM el i ssa’ s counsel r ecei ved noti ce oft he res e t f i nal t r i al sett i n g “ s o m e dat e i n D ecem beraf t erD ecem ber 1 1 , 2 0 0 7 ,” a n d c o n s id e r in g t h e e n t ir e re c o r d , M e lis s a re c e iv e d re a s o n a b le
n o ti c e o f th e J a n u a ry1 4 , 2 0 0 8 re s e t fi n a l h e a ri n g a s re q u i re d b yru l e 2 4 5 . S ee9 ... W e not e t hatt h e re c o r d dem onst r at es t hatt he t r i al courtsi gned an

or deron Oct obe r5, 2007 , co ns ol i dat i ng t he t er m i n at i on c as e w i t h a n a ct i on seeki ng t o r ecover M el i ssa’ s chi l d suppo rt ar r ear age und er c a u s e num ber 29 , 90 7. M el i ssa’ s att or ney app ear ed on b e hal fofM el i ssa i n cause num ber 2 9 ,9 0 7 a s e a r lya s N o v e m b e r1 4 , 2 0 0 7 , t w o m o n t h s b e f o r e t h e f in a l t r ia l. 10 id . 9Accor di ngl y, w e h ol d t hatt he t r i al co urtdi d no t a b u s e i ts di sc r et i on no t gr ant i ng M el i ssa’ s m ot i on f orcont i nuan ce. W e over r ul e M el i ssa’ s f i r sti ssue. I V . Evi denti ary S uff i ci ency I n hersecond, th ird , f ourt h, f i f t h, and si xt h i ssues, M el i ssa ar gues t hat the e vi den cei s l ega l l y a nd f ac t ual l y i ns uf f i ci entt o s upportt he t r i al co urt’s f am i l y c ode s ec t i on 161. 001 ( 1) t er m i nat i on gr ound f i nd i ngsan d s ec t i on 161 . 001 ( 2) be sti nt er es tf i ndi ng. A . S t andar d ofRev i ew A pa r ent ’ s r i ght s t o “ t he com pan i ons hi p, ca r e, cu st ody, an d
m a n a g e m e n t” o f h i s o r h e r c h i l d re n a re c o n s ti tu ti o n a l i n te re s ts “ fa r m o re pr eci ous t han anypr opert y r i ght. ” Santos k yv. Kram er, 455 U. S. 745, 758 –59 , 102 S . Ct . 1388 , 1397 ( 198 2); In re M .S. , 115 S. W . 3d 534, 547 (T e x . 2 0 0 3 ). “ W h i l e p a re n ta l ri g h ts a re o f c o n s ti tu ti o n a l m a g n i tu d e , th e ya re not absol ut e. Just as i ti s i m per at i ve f orcourt s t o r ecogn i ze t he const i t ut i onal und er pi nni ngs of t he par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p, i ti s al so essent i al t hatem ot i onal and ph ysi cal i nt e re s t s oft he chi l d not be sacr i f i ced m er el y t o pr eserve t hat11

r i ght. ” I

nreC. H. , 89 S. W . 3d 17, 26 ( Tex. 200 2) 6. I n a t er m i nat i on c as e, t he S tate se e k s n o t j u st to l i m i t pa ren tal ri g h ts b u t t o era se the m p e rm a n e n tl y — to d i v e s t th e p a re n t a n d c h i l d o f a l l l e g a l ri g h ts , p ri v i l e g e s , d u ti e s , a n d p o w e rs nor m al l y e xi st i ng be t w ee n t hem , ex ce ptf ort he chi l d’ s r i ghtt o i nhe r i t . Tex . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .2 0 6 (b ) (V e rn o n 2 0 0 8 ); Ho l i ckv. Sm ith , 685 S. W . 2d 18, 2 0 (T e x . 1 9 8 5 ). W e s t r i c t lys c r u t in iz e t e r m in a t io n p r o c e e d in g s a n d s t r ic t ly
c o n s tru e i n v o l u n ta ryte rm i n a ti o n s ta tu te s i n f a v o r o f th e p a re n t. Hol i ck , 685 S. W . 2d a t20–2 1; I

n reM. C. T. , 2 5 0 S .W .3 d 1 6 1 , 1 6 7 ( T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 2 0 0 8 , n o p e t.). I n pr oceedi ngs t o t er m i nat e t he par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p br oug htu nder
se ct i on 161. 001 oft he f am i l y cod e, t he pet i t i one rm us tes t abl i sh onegr ound l i st ed unde rs ubdi vi si on ( 1) of t he st at ut e a nd m us tal so pr ovet hatt er m i nat i on i si n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 ; I n re J. L. , 163 S. W . 3d 79, 84 ( Tex. 2005 ) . Bot h e l em ent s m us tbe es t abl i s h e d; t er m i nat i on m ay not be based sol el y on t he besti nt er e s t o f th e chi l d as d e te rm i n e d b y t h e tri e r o f fa c t. Tex. D ep’tof Hum an Servs . v. Boyd, 727 S .W .2 d 5 3 1 , 5 3 3 (T e x . 1 9 8 7 ). Ter m i nat i on de ci si onsm us tbe s upport ed by c l ea ran d c onvi nci ng evi dence. Tex. Fam . C ode A nn. §§ 16 1 .0 0 1, 16 1. 20 6( a) . Evi dence i s cl ear and con vi nci ng i f i t “w i l l pr oduc e i n t he m i nd of t he t r i er of f ac t a f i r m bel i efor12

convi ct i on as t o t he tr ut h oft he al l egat i ons sough tt o be est abl i shed. ” Id. § 1 0 1 .0 0 7 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ). D u e p ro c e s s d e m a n d s th i s h e i g h te n e d s ta n d a rd bec aus e t er m i nat i on r es ul t s i n pe r m ane nt , i r r evo ca bl e c han gesf ort he par ent
a n d c h i l d . I

nreJ. F. C. , 9 6 S .W .3 d 2 5 6 , 2 6 3 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ); see I n re J. A . J. , 243 S. W . 3d 611 , 616 ( Tex. 200 7) ( con t r as t i ng st and ar ds f or t er m i na ti o n a nd
m o d i fi c a ti o n ). I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den ce f orl ega l s uf f i ci enc y i n pa r ent al t er m i nat i on c a s e s , w e m u s t d e t e r m in e w h e t h e r t h e e v id e n c e is s u c h t h a ta f a c t f in d e rc o u ld
r ea so nab l y f or m a f i r m be l i eforco nvi c ti o n t hatt he gr oundsf ort er m i nat i on
w e re p ro v e n . I

n reJ. P. B. , 18 0 S . W . 3d 57 0, 57 3 (T ex. 20 05 ) . W e m ust
rev i e w all the ev i d e n c e i n the l i g h t m o st fav o rab l e to th e fi n d i n g an d j u d g m e n t. Id. Th i s m eans t hat w e m ust assum e t hat t he f act f i nder r esol ved any di sput ed fa c ts i n fa v o r o f i ts fi n d i n g i f a re a s o n a b l e fa c tfin d e r c o u l d h a v e d o n e s o . Id. W e m us tal so di sr ega r d a l l ev i den cet hata r e a s ona bl e f ac t f i nde rco ul d ha ve d i s b e l i e v e d . Id. W e m u s t c o n s id e r , h o w e v e r , u n d is p u t e d e v id e n c e e v e n if itis
c o n tra ryto th e fi n d i n g . Id. T h a t i s, w e m u st c o n side r ev id e n c e fav o rab l e to t er m i nat i on i fa r easonabl e f a c tf indercoul d and di sr egar d contr ar y evi dence
u n l e s s a re a s o n a b l e fa c tfin d e r c o u l d n o t. Id. W e m u s t th e re fo re c o n s i d e r a l l o f th e e v i d e n c e , n o t j u s t th a t w h i c h fa v o rs th e v e rd i c t. Id. Butw e ca nnot w ei gh w i t nes s cr edi bi l i t y i ss uest hatde pen d on13

th e a p p e a ra n c e a n d d e m e a n o r o f th e w i tn e s s e s , fo r th a t i s th e f a c t f i n d e r’s p ro v i n c e . Id. at573, 574. And eve n w h e n c re d i bi l i t y i ss uesap pea ri n t he ap p e l l a t e r e c o r d , we mu s t d e f e r t o t h e f a c t f i n d e r ’ s d e t e r mi n a t i o n s a s l ong as th e ya re n o t u n re a s o n a b l e . Id. a t573. I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den cef orf ac t ual s uf f i c i e n cy, w e m us tgi ve due def er enc e t o t he f ac t f i nde r ’ s f i ndi ngs and nots uppl antt he j udgm entw i t h our
o w n . I n reH. R. M. , 209 S . W . 3d 105, 108 ( Tex. 2006 ) . W e m us tde t er m i ne
w het her , on t he ent i r e r ec or d, a f ac t f i nde r cou l d r ea so nab l y f or m a fi rm con vi ct i on orbe l i eft hatt he par entvi ol at ed t he re l e van tco nduc tpr ovi si on of
s e c t io n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 ) a n d t h a tt h e t e r m in a t io n o ft h e p a r e n t -c h ild re la t io n s h ip
w o u l d b e i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . C. H. , 89 S. W . 3d at28. I f , i n l i ght
o f t h e e n t ir e re c o r d , t h e d is p u t e d e v id e n c e t h a ta re a s o n a b le f a c t f in d e rc o u ld
n o th a v e c r e d it e d in f a v o ro ft h e f in d in g is s o s ig n if ic a n t t h a ta f a c t f in d e rc o u ld notr ea so nab l y ha ve f or m ed a f i r m bel i ef or con vi ct i on i n t he t r ut h ofi t s f i ndi ng, th e n th e e v i d e n c e i s fa c tu a l l yi n s u fficie n t. H. R. M. , 209 S. W . 3d a t108. B. C ons t r uct i ve A ban donm entFi ndi ng A p a r e n tc o n s t r u c t iv e ly a b a n d o n s a c h ild w h e n (1 ) t h e c h ild h a s b e e n in t he per m anent or t em por ar y m anagi ng conser vat or shi p of TD FPS o r an aut hor i zed agency f ornotl ess th a n si x m onths, ( 2) TD FPS ort he aut hor i zed age nc y h a s m a d e r ea so nab l e e f f ort s t o r et ur n t he chi l d t o t he par ent , ( 3) t he14

par entha s notr egu l ar l y vi si t ed or m ai nt ai ned si gni f i ca nt con t ac tw i t h t he chi l d,
a n d ( 4 ) th e p a ren t h a s d e m o n strate d a n i n a b i l i ty to p rov i d e the ch i l d w i th a s a fe
e n v i ro n m e n t. T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(N ); I n reA. S. , 261 S. W . 3d 7 6 , 8 8

– 8 9 (T e x . A p p .— H o u s t o n [1 4 t h D is t .] 2 0 0 8 , p e t . d e n i e d ) . T h e o n ly
co n s t r u c t i v e a b a n d o n me n tr e q u i r e me n tMe l i s s a c h a l l e n g e s i s t h e r e q u i r e ment t hatTD FPS m ak e r ea so nab l e e f f ort s t o re tu r n t he chi l dr en t o he r . As TD FPS poi nt s out , t hi s cou rtan d ot her s hav e r ea so ned t hatTD FPS’ s pr epa r at i on a nd adm i ni st r at i on of a se r vi ce pl an f ort he par entco ns t i t ut esev i den cet hatTD FPS
m a d e re a s o n a b l e e ffo rts to re tu rn th e c h i l d to th e p a re n t. S e e, e .g ., I nre K. M. B. , 9 1 S .W .3 d 1 8 , 2 5 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 2 , n o p e t.); I n reS. S. , N o. 11
- 05

- 00 08 3- C V , 20 06 W L 12 85 12 5, at*2 –3 ( Tex . A pp. — East l and M ay 1 1 , 2 0 0 6 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p .). The r ec or d de m ons t r at est hat M el i ss a part i ci pat ed w i t h TD FPS t o de vel op a se rvi c e p l a n. Sh e s i gn e d t he“ Fa m i l y Se r vi c e Pl a n”o n O c t ob e r25, 2006 . The s ervi cepl an sp ec i f i ca l l y s t at est hat i t s “p ur pos e i s t o he l p yo u pr ovi de your chi l d w i th a s a fe env i r onm entw i t hi n t he r ea so nab l e p er i od s pec i f i ed i n t he pl an. ” I tf urt hers t at est hatTD FPS ( C PS) w i l l ev al uat e M el i ss a’ s pr ogr es s on th e b a s i s o f M e l i s s a ’s “ s u c c e s s fu l a c h i e v e m e n t o f th e g o a l s s ta te d i n th i s p l a n ,” “s ucc es sf ul com pl et i on of t he t as ks i n t hi s pl an, ” and “a bi l i t y t o pr ovi de f ort he ong oi ng saf et y and w el l
- bei ng of your chi l dr en. ” The ser vi ce pl an r equi r ed t hat15

M el i ss a com pl et e par ent i ng cl as se s, a ps ych ol ogi ca l eva l uat i on , c o uns el i ng se ss i ons , an d dr ug s cr ee ns . O n O ct obe r27, 20 0 6, t he t r i al co urts i gne d a st at us hear i ng or d e r p rov i di ng i n partt hatt he servi ce pl an i s r easonabl e, a c c u ra te , an d i n c om pl i anc e w i t h t he pr evi ousor der s oft he cou rtan d,
s i g n i fi c a n tl y , th a t th e p l a n “ a d e q u a te l ye n s u re [s ] th a t re a s o n a b l e e ffo rts a re bei ng m adet o e nab l e t he par entt o pr ovi de a s af e e nvi r onm entf ort he
c h i l d re n .” M el i ssa ar gues t hatTD FPS “di d not m ake r easonabl e ef f ort s t o assi st [he r] w i th h e r t ran sp o rt a ti o n i ss u e s i n a n e ffort t o fac i l i tate h e r vi sit a ti o n w i th t he chi l dr en, nor di d [ TD FPS ] assi st her i n an ef f ortt o m ake t he vi si t at i on t ake pl ac e a ta l oca t i on m or e a cc es si bl e t o M el i ss a. ” B u t A p ri l M anc i l l a, t he C PS
casew or kerassi gned t o M el i ssa’ s case, t est i f i ed t hat M el i ssa neverr equest ed t r ans port at i on s ervi ce s f r om TD FPS. M anc i l l a al so t es t i f i ed t hatM el i ss a d i d not not i f y her of t he app r oxi m at el y si x m ove s t hat M el i ss a m aded u ri n g the pend en c y o f t he case, t hati tw as di f f i cul tt o l ocat e M el i ssa, and t hati tw as d if f ic u ltt o w o r kw it h M e lis s a w it h r e g a r d t o h e r p e r f o r m in g s e r v ic e s . M a n c illa st at ed t hatTD FPS of f er ed se r vi ce s ea r l y i n t he ca se , butM el i ss a d i d not
com pl et e herservi ces unt i l t he l at t erpartof20 07 . A ccor di ng t o M anci l l a, M el i ss a expr essed t hr oug hou tt he w hol e case t hatshe w ant ed t o pl ace her16

c hi l dr e n w i t h he r s i s t e r , w ho l i ve s i n L ou i s i a na . I tw a s n otu nt i l Oct ob e r2007 th a t M e l i s s a “ d e c i d e d th a t s h e w a s g o i n g to w o rks e rv i c e s .” A ddi t i onal l y, M el i ssa t est i f i ed t hat she accom pl i shed m any of herm oves and vi si t ed her chi l dr en w hen l i vi ng aw ay f r om t hem w i t h t he hel p off r i ends, by t ak i ng a G r eyh ound bus , orby dr i vi ng he row n c ar w hen sh e ow ned i t . She t es t i f i ed: [ TD FPS at t or ney] : S o you w er e abl e t o gett r ansport at i on w hen you nee ded t o ge tt r ans port at i on? [ M el i ssa] : Y es. T h e d e c i si on t o notl i ve cl os ert o he rch i l dr en w asM el i ss a’ s dec i si on. A ccor di ng t o her , she never m oved t o G r aham t o be cl ose t o her c h il dr en bec aus e s he “d i dn’ tw antt o [ m o v e to G raha m ] . [ She] w ant ed t o l i ve e l s e w h e re .” Based o n ourr evi ew oft he ent i r e r ecor d, w e concl ude t hat a f act f i nder
cou l d r ea so nab l y hav e f or m ed a f i r m bel i ef or con vi ct i on t ha t T D F P S m ade
r ea so nab l e e f f ort s t o r et ur n t he chi l dr en t o M el i ss a. Ther ef or e, w e hol d t hatt he evi den cei s l ega l l y a nd f ac tu al l y s uf f i ci entt o s upportt he t r i al co urt ’ s se ct i on 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(N ) fi n d i n g th a t M e l i s s a c o n s tru c ti v e l ya b a n d o n e d h e r c h i l d re n . S ee Tex . Fam . C ode A nn. § 1 61 . 00 1( 1) ( N ) . W e over r ul e M el i ssa’ s f ourt h i ssue.17

B e c a u s e w e a ffir m th e tri a l c o u rt ’s s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(N ) fi n d i n g , w e nee d notad dr es s M el i ss sa ’ s se con d, th i rd , and f i f t h i ss uesch al l eng i ng t he
s u fficie n c yo f th e e v i d e n c e to s u p p o rt th e tri a l c o u rt’s s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ), a n d (O ) fi n d i n g s . S e eI nreA. V. , 113 S. W . 3d 355, 362 ( Te x. 2003 ) (p r o v id in g t h a to n lyo n e p r e d ic a t e f in d in g u n d e rs e c t io n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 ) is
necessary t o suppo rt a j udg m ent of t er m i nat i on w hen t her e i s al so a f i ndi ng t hat te rm i n a ti o n i s i n th e c h i l d ’s b e s t i n te re s t). C . Bes tI nt eres tFi ndi ng Ther e i s a st r ong pr es um pt i on t hat ke epi ng a c hi l d w i t h a pa r enti s i n t he
c h i l d ’s b e s t i n te re s t. I n reR. R. , 209 S. W . 3d 112, 116 ( Tex. 2006 ) . Pr om pt and per m anent pl acem entoft he chi l d i n a saf e envi r onm enti s al so pr esum ed t o bei n t he chi l d’ s bes t i nt er es t . Tex . Fa m . Code Ann. § 263. 307 ( a) ( V er non 20 02 ) . N onexcl usi ve f act or s t hat t he t r i er of f act i n a t er m i nat i on case m ay use i n det er m i ni ng t he besti nt er estoft he chi l d i ncl ude: ( A ) t he des i r esoft he chi l d; ( B) t he em ot i ona l an d phy si ca l ne eds of t he chi l d now an d i n t he fu tu re ( C ) t he em ot i ona l an d phy si ca l da nge rt o t he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e; ( D ) t he par ent al abi l i t i es of t he i ndi vi dua l s se ek i ng c us t ody;18

(E) th e p rog ram s a v a i la b l e to a ss i st th e se i n d i v i d u a l s to pr om ot e t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d; ( F) t he pl ansf ort he chi l d byt hes e i ndi vi dua l s orby t he age ncys ee ki ng c us t ody; (G ) th e sta b i l i ty o f t h e h o m e o r t h e p rop o se d p l a c e m e n t; (H ) th e ac ts o r om i ss i o n s o f t h e p a ren t w h i c h m a yi n d i c a te th a t t h e ex i sti n g p a ren t- c h i l d rel a ti o n s h ip is n o t a pr ope rone ; an d (I ) a n yex c u se for the ac ts o r om i ss i o n s o f t h e p a ren t. Ho l le yv. A da ms , 5 4 4 S . W .2 d 3 6 7 , 3 7 1

– 7 2 (T e x . 1 9 7 6 ). T h e s e fa c to rs a re not exhaust i ve; som e l i st ed f act or s m ay be i napp l i cabl e t o som e cases; ot her fa c to rs n o t o n th e l i s t m a ya l s o b e c o n s i d e re d w h e n a p p ro p ri a te . C .H ., 89 S. W .3 d a t 27. Fu rt her m or e, undi sp ut ed evi den ceofj us tonef ac t orm ay be suf f i ci enti n a part i cul arcase t o suppo rt a f i ndi ng t hat t er m i nat i on i s i n t he best i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . Id. O n t he ot herhand, t he pre s e n c e o f s c antevi dence
re l e v a n t to e a c h fa c to r w i l l n o t s u p p o rt s u c h a fi n d i n g . Id. H er e, Jul i a i nf or m ed t he t r i al court t hatshe t hou ght M el i ssa s hou l d “get herr i ght s t o us [ t he chi l dr en] , ” t hat sh e w oul d f ee l s af e l i vi ng w i t h M el i ss a, an d t hatshe w oul d be happ i esti f t he j udg e “[ p] ut m e back w i t h m y m am a. ” Jam es t ol d t he t r i al court t hat he w ant ed t o l i ve w i t h M el i ssa because he has notl i ved
w i t h her i n a l ong t i m e. M el i ss a of f er ed i nt o evi den ce t w o not es f r om the chi l dr en. They st at e, am ong ot hert hi ngs , “ H ope you s t ay aw ay f r om s m oki ng19

and I hope t hat you com e t hr ough w i t h your se r vi ce s and I hope you get u s bac k, ” “I l oveyou and m i ssyou an d w antt o go hom e w i t h yo u, ” “Yourl ovi ng c h i l d re n fo re v e r,” a n d “ W e l o v e y o u , M o m m y .” M e l i ss a tes ti fi e d tha t sh e h a s tak e n ste p s to b e c o m e a re sp o n sibl e p a ren t, i ncl udi ng ge t t i ng a j ob, app l yi ng f orhous i ng, an d t r yi ng t o w or k s om et hi ng ou t f ort r ans port at i on. M el i ss a o pi ned t ha t s he i s abl e t o bot h phy si ca l l y a nd
em ot i onal l y t ake car e oft he chi l dr en, t hat “t hi s pr ocess” has m at ur ed her , t hat sh e r el at esw i t h he rch i l dr en w el l , an d t hathe rgodm ot herpr ovi deshe rw i t h a
s u p p o rts y s t e m. M anci l l a, how ever, opi ned t hati ti s i n t he chi l dr en’ s besti nt er estt hat M el i ssa’ s par ent al r i ght s b e t er m i nat ed. She tes t i f i ed t hatt he chi l dr en need st abi li t y, per m anency, and consi st ency; t hatt hey need a hom e t hatt hey can go t o; and t hat t hey need t o have f ood t o eat . M anci l l a t hou ght t hatM el i ssa had notde vel ope d t he par ent i ng sk i l l s and abi l i t i es nec es sa r y t o t ak e c ar e o ft he t hr ee c h i l dr en. She t es t i f i ed t hatM el i ss a d i d notcu r r ent l y ha ve a c l ea n a nd
sa fe e n v i ron m e n t f o r t h e ch i l d ren to l i v e i n , th a t M e l i ss a d id n o t de m o n strate t o TD FPS t hat t he cho i ce s sh e had bee n m ak i ng w er e g ood c hoi ce s, t hats he had no i ndi cat i on f r om M el i ssa’ s t est i m ony thatM el i ssa i s em ot i onal l y st abl e, t hatM el i ss a c oul d notad equ at el y t ak e c ar e o ft he em ot i ona l an d phy si ca l ne eds oft he chi l dr en, t hat sh e doe s not t hi nk t hat M el i ss a w i l l gett he chi l dr en t o t he20

doctor ’ s of f i ce w hen t hey need t o go, and t hat she does nott hi nk t hatM el i ssa hast he par ent i ng a bi l i t y t o pa r ent t he chi l dr en. M el i ss a ac kno w l edg ed t hats he does not have t r ansport at i on and t hatshe does not have a pl ace f ort he chi l dr en to l i v e . M anc i l l a a gr ee d t hat M el i ss a has m adenum er ousex cus esf orhe rbe hav i or i ns t ea d oft ak i ng r es pons i bi l i t y f orhe rac t i ons , i ncl udi ng t hatM e l i s s a had a dru n kf at her , t hats he bec am e p r egn antatag e f i f t ee n a nd e i ght ee n, t hats he
w aski ck ed outofs cho ol atag e f i f t ee n, t hats he has no t r ans port at i on and no hom e, an d t hats he l i veson d i sa bi l i t y. M anci l l a t est i f i ed t hat al l t hr ee oft he chi l dr en ar e doi ng “gr eat ” and t hat t hey ar e com f ort abl e i n t hei rcur r ent pl acem ent s. S he agr eed t hatt he chi l dr en hav e n eve rha d a co ns i st ent ca r egi ver and t hat t he l as t yea r and one - hal f( t he pend ency of M el i ssa’ s case) has pr obab l y pr ovi ded t he chi l dr en w i t h t he m ost
con si st entca r e t hatt heyha ve eve rha d. Fr ankG el l neri s t he gua r di an ad l i t em f ort he chi l dr e n . H e v i s i t ed t he
c h i l d r e n a tl e a s te v e r yt h r e e mo n t h s d u r i n g h i s t e n u r e a s g u a r d i a n a d l i t e m. He agr ee d t hatJul i a, t he el des ts i bl i ng, f el tl i ke sh e w ast he “m ot herf i gur e”i n t he l i v e s o f he r t w o si b l i n g s. G e l l n e r di d n o t th i n k th a t i t w o u l d b e a g o o d i d e a to
r et ur n t he chi l dr en t o M el i ssa, and he r ecom m ended t hatM el i ssa’ s par e n t al
r i ght s be t er m i nat ed.21

Th e f act or s— i ncl udi ng t he em ot i onal and phy si cal needs oft he chi l dr en now an d i n t he f ut ur e, t he em ot i ona l an d phy si ca l da nge rt o t he chi l dr en now and i n t he f ut ur e, M el i ss a’ s p a re n ta l a bi l i t i es , t he st abi l i t y oft he hom e, an d M el i ss a’ s exc us esf orhe rac t s orom i ss i ons — su pportt he t r i al co urt ’ s f i ndi ng th a t t e rm i n a ti o n o f th e p a ren t- c h i l d rel a ti o n sh i p i s i n the ch i l d ren ’s b e st i n tere st. S ee Hol ley , 544 S. W . 2d a t371– 72. Based o n ourr evi ew of t he ent i r e r ecor d, w e concl ude t hata f act f i nder
cou l d r ea so nab l y ha ve f or m ed a f i r m be l i e forco nvi ct i on t hatt er m i nat i on of M el i ssa’ s par ent al r i ghtst o Jul i a, Jam es, and B et han y is in Jul i a’ s, Jam es’ s, and Bet han y’ s bes t i nt er es t . Ther ef or e, w e h ol d t hatt he evi den cei s l ega l l y a nd f act ual l y suf f i ci entt o suppo rtt he t r i al court ’ s sect i on 16 1. 00 1( 2) besti nt er est fi n d i n g . S ee T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (2 ). W e o v e rr u l e M e l i ss a ’s si x th i ssue. V . Concl us i on H avi ng ov er r ul ed M el i ss a’ s f i r st , f ourt h, and si xt h i ss ues , he rdi sp os i t i ve i ss u e s, w e affi rm the tr i a l c o u rt ’s o rde r term i n a ti n g M e l i ss a ’s p a ren tal ri g h ts to Jul i a, Ja m es , an d Bet han y.

B OB M CC OY J U S T I C E PA N EL: G A RD N ER, W A LKER, an d M C C O Y, JJ.22

DEL I VERE D: F e br ua r y 5, 2009