IN THE

TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

No. 10-13-00276-CV

IN THE INTEREST OF A.C., R.P., AND A.P., CHILDREN

From the 74th District Court

McLennan County, Texas

Trial Court No. 2012-1355-3

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Angel P. appeals from a judgment that terminated the parent-child relationship 

between her and her children, A.C., R.P., and A.P. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001 

(West 2008). In presenting this appeal, appointed counsel has filed an Anders brief in 

support of his motion to withdraw. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S. Ct. 1396, 

18 L. Ed.2d 493 (1967). We grant counsel's motion and affirm.

The procedures set forth in Anders v. California are applicable to appeals of orders 

terminating parental rights. In re E.L.Y., 69 S.W.3d 838, 841 (Tex. App.—Waco 2002, 

order) (per curiam) (applying Anders to parental termination appeals). See also Taylor v. 

Texas Dep't of Protective & Regulatory Servs., 160 S.W.3d 641, 646-647 (Tex. App.—Austin 
In the Interest of A.C., R.P., and A.P., Children Page 2

2005, pet. denied). In support of his motion to withdraw, counsel certifies he has 

conducted a conscientious examination of the record and, in his opinion, the record 

reflects no potentially plausible basis to support an appeal. Counsel certifies he has 

diligently researched the law applicable to the facts and issues and candidly discusses 

why, in his professional opinion, the appeal is frivolous. In re D.A.S., 973 S.W.2d 296, 

297 (Tex. 1998). Counsel has demonstrated he has complied with the requirements of 

Anders by (1) providing a copy of the brief to Angel and (2) notifying her of her right to 

file a pro se response if she desired to do so. Id. Angel has not filed a pro se response to 

the Anders brief.

The order of termination recites that Angel:

knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the children to remain in 

conditions or surroundings which endangered the physical or emotional 

well-being of the children;

engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the children with persons who 

engaged in conduct which endangered the physical or emotional wellbeing of the children;

constructively abandoned the children who had been in the permanent or 

temporary managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and 

Protective Services or an authorized agency for not less than 6 months; 

and 

failed to comply with the provisions of a court order that specifically 

established the actions necessary for the parent to obtain the return of the 

children who had been in the permanent or temporary managing 

conservatorship of the Department for not less than nine months as a 

result of the children's removal from the parent under Chapter 262 for the 

abuse and neglect of the children.
In the Interest of A.C., R.P., and A.P., Children Page 3

TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001(1)(D), (E), (N), & (O) (West Supp. 2012).

Appellate counsel was appointed for Angel. A motion for new trial was filed by 

Angel's appellate counsel, but there is nothing in the record to indicate that a hearing 

was requested or held on the motion.

By the Anders brief, counsel evaluates potential issues on all three grounds 

supporting termination. Counsel acknowledges that only one statutory ground is 

necessary to support an order of termination in addition to a finding that termination is 

in the children's best interest. See In re A.V., 113 S.W.3d 355, 362 (Tex. 2003). He then 

analyzes the evidence to support the termination order under section 161.001(1)(O) and 

the best interest of the children and concludes there is no arguable error. Counsel's 

brief evidences a professional evaluation of the record for error, and we conclude that 

counsel performed the duties required of an appointed counsel.

Standard of Review in Termination Cases

Due process requires application of the clear and convincing standard of proof in 

cases involving involuntary termination of parental rights. In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 

263 (Tex. 2002). Clear and convincing evidence is that measure or degree of proof 

which will produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the 

truth of the allegations sought to be established. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 101.007 

(West 2008). See also In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 25-26 (Tex. 2002).

The Family Code permits a court to order termination of parental rights if the 
In the Interest of A.C., R.P., and A.P., Children Page 4

petitioner establishes one or more acts or omissions enumerated under subsection (1) of 

the statute and also proves that termination of the parent-child relationship is in the 

best interest of the child. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001 (West 2008); Holley v. 

Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 370 (Tex. 1976).

Failure to Comply with Court Order

Parental rights may be terminated if a parent fails to comply with a court order 

that specifically establishes the actions necessary for the parent to obtain the return of a 

child who has been in the permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the 

Department for not less than nine months as a result of the child's removal under 

Chapter 262 of the Family Code for the abuse or neglect of the child. See TEX. FAM.

CODE ANN. § 161.001(1)(O) (West 2008); In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 278-79. We agree with 

counsel's evaluation that there is clear and convincing evidence to support termination 

under section 161.001(1)(O). Further, because only one statutory ground is necessary to 

support an order of termination, we need not evaluate the evidence as it pertains to the 

other grounds for termination alleged, subsections (D), (E), and (N).

Best Interest of the Children

Notwithstanding the sufficiency of the evidence to support termination under 

section 161.001(1), we must also find clear and convincing evidence that termination of 

the parent-child relationship was in the children's best interest. See TEX. FAM. CODE 

ANN. § 161.001(2). Evidence that proves one or more statutory grounds for termination 
In the Interest of A.C., R.P., and A.P., Children Page 5

may also constitute evidence illustrating that termination is in the child's best interest. 

See In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 28. There is a long-standing non-exhaustive list of factors for 

a court to consider in deciding the best interest of a child in a termination case. See 

Holley, 544 S.W.2d at 371-72.

We agree with counsel's evaluations that there is clear and convincing evidence 

under the appropriate legal and factual sufficiency standards for the jury to have 

determined that termination of the parent-child relationship was in the best interest of 

A.P., R.P., and A.C.

Summary

Upon receiving a "frivolous appeal" brief, this Court must conduct a full 

examination of all proceedings to determine whether the case is wholly frivolous. See 

Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80, 109 S. Ct. 346, 349-50, 102 L. Ed. 2d 300 (1988); see also In 

re M.A.R., No. 10-10-00237-CV, 2011 Tex. App. LEXIS 3596, at *2 (Tex. App.—Waco May 

11, 2011, no pet.) (mem. op.). After our review of the entire record and counsel's brief, 

we agree with counsel that there are no plausible grounds for appeal. See Bledsoe v. 

State, 178 S.W.3d 824, 827-28 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Accordingly, we affirm the trial 

court's judgment.

Motion to Withdraw

In accordance with Anders, counsel has filed a motion to withdraw. See Anders, 

386 U.S. at 744, 87 S. Ct. at 1400; see also In re Schulman, 252 S.W.3d 403, 407 n.17 (Tex. 
In the Interest of A.C., R.P., and A.P., Children Page 6

Crim. App. 2008). We grant counsel's motion to withdraw.1 Within five days of the 

date of this Court's opinion, counsel is ordered to send a copy of the opinion and 

judgment to Angel and to advise her of her right to pursue a petition for review in the 

Texas Supreme Court. See In re K.D., 127 S.W.3d 66, 68 n.3 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st 

Dist.] 2003, no pet.).

Conclusion

The motion to withdraw is granted and the judgment of the trial court is 

affirmed.

TOM GRAY

Chief Justice

Before Chief Justice Gray,

Justice Davis, and

Justice Scoggins

Affirmed and motion granted

Opinion delivered and filed November 14, 2013

[CV06]

 

1 No substitute counsel will be appointed. Should Angel wish to seek further review of this case by this 

Court or the Texas Supreme Court, she must either retain an attorney to file a motion for rehearing or a 

petition for review or file a pro se motion for rehearing or a petition for review. Any motion for rehearing 

must be filed within fifteen days of this opinion. Any petition for review must be filed within forty-five 

days after the date of either this opinion or the last ruling by this Court on all timely-filed motions for 

rehearing. See TEX. R. APP. P. 53.7(a). Any petition for review must comply with the requirements of 

Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 53.2. TEX. R. APP. P. 53.2.