Affirmed and Opinion Filed March 1, 2024

In The

Court of Appeals

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas

No. 05-23-00879-CV

IN THE INTEREST OF M.M.S. AND N.A.S., MINOR CHILDREN

On Appeal from the 305th Judicial District Court

Dallas County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. JC-21-01219-X

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Before Justices Goldstein, Garcia, and Miskel

Opinion by Justice Miskel

Mother appeals the trial court’s judgment terminating Mother’s and unknown 

Fathers’ parental rights to two of Mother’s children. In her sole issue on appeal, she 

argues the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support that the 

termination of her parental rights was in the best interest of the children. We affirm 

the trial court’s judgment. 

I. Factual and Procedural Background

The following facts are based on the pleadings, documents filed with the trial 

court, and evidence adduced during the trial.

In December 2021, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services 

(the Department) received a report that Mother, who was pregnant with N.A.S. and 
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taking Methadone, left a drug rehabilitation facility with M.M.S., an infant, without 

being discharged and having previously indicated during meetings that she intended 

to continue using drugs upon her discharge. Mother also admitted to smoking crack 

cocaine after she left the drug rehabilitation facility while M.M.S. was in her care, 

and she had a prescription for Xanax that had been filled the day before with only 

forty of the sixty pills remaining in the bottle. Because Mother could not provide a 

placement option and M.M.S.’s maternal grandmother and maternal aunt stated they 

were also unable to care for the child, M.M.S. was removed from her care and placed 

in the foster care system.

Later in December, the Department filed a petition for protection of a child, 

for conservatorship, and for termination in a suit affecting the parent-child 

relationship with respect to M.M.S. On the same day, the trial judge signed an ex 

parte order for emergency care and temporary custody that named the Department 

temporary managing conservator of M.M.S., found that continuation of the child in 

the home was contrary to the welfare of the child, and set the matter for hearing in 

January. The hearing was reset and the ex parte order was extended.

In February 2022, after a hearing, the trial judge signed a temporary order that, 

among other things, named the Department temporary managing conservator of 

M.M.S., appointed Mother temporary possessory conservator, and ordered Mother 

to complete the following services: parenting classes, psychological evaluation, 

counseling, drug and alcohol assessment, random drug and alcohol urinalysis or hair 
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strand tests, and to comply with the recommendations made by any of the providers 

of the foregoing services as arranged and paid for by the Department. The temporary 

order also required Mother’s visitation with M.M.S. to be supervised by the 

Department.

During these proceedings relating to M.M.S., N.A.S. was born. At the time 

of N.A.S.’s birth, N.A.S. tested positive for cocaine and showed symptoms of 

withdrawal so N.A.S. remained in the hospital for twenty days. Approximately a 

week before N.A.S. was born, Mother tested positive for marijuana, 

benzodiazepines, and cocaine. The day after N.A.S. was born, Mother tested 

positive for cocaine and opiates. N.A.S. was placed in foster care at the same home 

as M.M.S. in July 2022, when N.A.S. was released from the hospital. The next day, 

the Department filed its first amended petition adding N.A.S. to the case.

The Department obtained DNA testing for the man whom Mother identified 

as the children’s alleged father but he was excluded as the biological father of the 

children. At the time of the trial, no other individual had come forward to claim 

paternity of either child, and any unknown fathers were served by publication.

A trial was held on June 8, 2023. Mother appeared through her attorney but 

did not attend the trial in person. The trial court heard the unobjected-to testimony 

of the caseworker assigned to M.M.S. and N.A.S. and a court appointed special 

advocate (CASA) volunteer. At the conclusion of the trial, the guardian ad litem 

also recommended that it was in the children’s best interest for Mother’s parental 
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rights to be terminated. Mother’s attorney did not offer any evidence at trial. On 

August 21, 2023, the trial judge signed a judgment that found:

(1) Mother knowingly allowed the children to remain in conditions or 

surroundings which endangered the physical or emotional wellbeing of the children pursuant to § 161.001(b)(1)(D) of the Texas 

Family Code,

(2) Mother engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the children with 

persons who engaged in conduct which endangers the physical or 

emotional well-being of the children pursuant to 

§ 161.001(b)(1)(E) of the Texas Family Code, and

(3) Termination of the parent-child relationship between Mother and 

the children was in the best interest of the children,

and terminated Mother’s and the unknown fathers’ parental rights to M.M.S. and 

N.A.S.

II. Legal and Factual Sufficiency of the Evidence

In issue one, Mother argues the evidence is legally and factually insufficient 

to support that the termination of her parental rights was in the best interest of the 

children because there is no credible evidence supporting that determination. She 

maintains that the evidence shows she completed the court-ordered services, but 

concedes that she did not complete the subsequent recommendations. She also 

contends that there is no evidence that undermines her parental abilities or testimony 

relating to programs that could assist her. The Department responds that Mother 

does not contest the trial court’s findings as to the grounds for termination under 

§ 161.001(b)(1)(D) and (E); Mother only challenges the trial court’s determination 

that termination of her parental rights was in the best interest of the children. It 
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maintains that, while proof of acts or omissions under § 161.001(b) does not relieve 

it from proving the best interest of the children, the same evidence may be probative 

of both issues.

A. Standard of Review

Our standards of review reflect the elevated burden of proof at trial in a 

parental termination case of clear and convincing evidence. In re N.T., 474 S.W.3d 

465, 475 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2015, no pet.). Under both legal- and factualsufficiency standards, an appellate court considers all the evidence, defers to the factfinder’s determinations as to witness credibility, and determines whether the factfinder could reasonably form a firm belief or conviction that the grounds for 

termination were proven. Id.; see also In re A.B., 437 S.W.3d 498, 503 (Tex. 2014)

(describing the fact-finder as “the sole arbiter when assessing the credibility and 

demeanor of witnesses”). The distinction between the two standards lies in the 

extent to which an appellate court may consider disputed evidence contrary to a 

finding. In re A.C., 560 S.W.3d 624, 630 (Tex. 2018).

In a legal-sufficiency review, an appellate court credits evidence that supports 

the finding if a reasonable fact-finder could have done so, and it disregards contrary 

evidence unless a reasonable fact-finder could not have done so. In re K.M.L., 443 

S.W.3d 101, 112 (Tex. 2014). However, an appellate court does not disregard 

undisputed facts that do not support the finding. Id. at 113. Even evidence that does 

more than raise surmise and suspicion will not suffice as clear and convincing unless
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it can produce a firm belief or conviction that the allegation is true. Id. If no 

reasonable fact-finder could form a firm belief or conviction that the allegation is 

true, the evidence is legally insufficient. Id.

In a factual-sufficiency review, by contrast, an appellate court must weigh 

disputed evidence contrary to the finding against all the evidence that supports the 

finding. In re A.C., 560 S.W.3d at 631. Evidence is factually insufficient if, in light 

of the entire record, the disputed evidence a reasonable fact-finder could not have 

credited in favor of a finding is so significant that the fact-finder could not have 

formed a firm belief or conviction that the finding was true. Id.

Although an appellate court’s review must be “exacting,” in light of the 

constitutional interests at stake, it must not be so rigorous as to require, in effect, 

proof beyond a reasonable doubt. In re T.J., No. 05-22-00954-CV, 2023 WL 

1988838, at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas Feb. 14, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.).

B. Applicable Law

Because terminating parental rights implicates fundamental interests, the clear 

and convincing standard of proof applies at trial in termination cases. In re A.B., 

437 S.W.3d at 502. “Clear and convincing evidence” is the measure or degree of 

proof that will produce in the fact-finder’s mind a firm belief or conviction as to the 

truth of the allegations to be established. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 101.007. A trial 

court may terminate a parent-child relationship if it finds by clear and convincing 

evidence (1) that there is one or more statutory grounds for termination defined in 
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Texas Family Code § 161.001(b)(1)(A)–(T), and (2) that termination is in the child’s 

best interest pursuant to § 161.001(b)(2).

Non-exclusive factors relevant to the best-interest determination include:

(1) the child’s desires; (2) the child’s present and future emotional and physical 

needs; (3) the present and future emotional and physical danger to the child; (4) the 

parent’s parental abilities; (5) the programs available to assist a parent to promote 

the child's best interest; (6) the parent’s plans for the child; (7) the stability of the 

home; (8) the parent’s acts or omissions that may indicate the parent-child 

relationship is not a proper one; and (9) any excuse for the parent’s acts or omissions. 

Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371–72 (Tex. 1976). A best-interest finding need 

not be supported by evidence of every Holley factor, particularly if there is 

undisputed evidence that the parental relationship endangered the child’s safety. See 

In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 27 (Tex. 2002). Evidence of § 161.001(b)(1) termination 

grounds may also be probative of a child’s best interest. See id. at 28.

C. The Evidence Is Sufficient to Support the Trial Court’s Determination 

that Termination of Mother’s Parental Rights was in the Best Interest of 

the Children

On appeal, Mother challenges only the trial court’s finding that termination is 

in the children’s best interest pursuant to § 161.001(b)(2). The record shows that 

Mother failed to appear in person at trial; only Mother’s counsel was present. 

Mother’s counsel did not call any witnesses or offer any exhibits into evidence.
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The testimony at trial showed that Mother admitted to using drugs while 

M.M.S was still in her care, and N.A.S. tested positive for cocaine at birth and 

experienced withdrawal symptoms. See FAM. § 161.001(a). The children were 

infants at the time of trial.

After the proceedings commenced, Mother was ordered to complete parenting 

classes, a psychological evaluation, individual counseling, and a drug assessment. 

She was also required to submit to random drug testing. She completed the classes, 

evaluation, counseling, and assessment, but her compliance with the drug testing 

was inconsistent due to her failure to show up at times. Further, she tested positive 

on at least three drug tests during the pendency of the case. Despite completing the 

required initial services, Mother failed to complete the additional recommendations 

that she have an additional twelve sessions of individual counseling and an 

additional ninety days in a treatment program.

Mother’s visitation with the children was inconsistent, with her missing at 

least five visits in the months between March 2023 and the June trial. Mother’s 

visitation was scheduled for a two-hour period, but she would arrive late and she 

usually stayed in the visitation room for only thirty minutes to an hour. Mother did 

attend visitation with the children the week before trial but did not contact the 

Department for visitation during the week of trial. Further, at the time of trial, the 

Department did not know Mother’s current living location, Mother did not have a 
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job the last time the caseworker spoke with her, and the Department had concerns 

about Mother’s ability to care for herself.

The children’s fathers were unknown and DNA testing excluded the man 

Mother had identified as the children’s father. The children’s maternal grandmother 

was not able to be a caregiver due to her age, and their maternal aunt was unable to 

assist with the children, noting that most of the family had either mental health issues 

or substance abuse issues.

We conclude that a reasonable fact-finder could form a firm belief or 

conviction that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in the best interests of 

M.M.S. and N.A.S. And the record does not contain disputed evidence a reasonable 

fact-finder could not have credited so significant that the fact-finder could not have 

formed that firm belief or conviction. Accordingly, the evidence supporting the trial 

judge’s finding that termination of the parent-child relationship between Mother and 

the children was in the best interest of the children is both legally and factually 

sufficient.

Issue one is decided against Mother.

III. Conclusion

The evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s 

judgment.
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We affirm the trial court’s final decree order of termination on judgment on 

verdict of the Court.

230879f.p05

/Emily Miskel/

EMILY MISKEL

JUSTICE
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Court of Appeals

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas

JUDGMENT

IN THE INTEREST OF M.M.S. 

AND N.A.S., MINOR CHILDREN, 

No. 05-23-00879-CV V.

On Appeal from the 305th Judicial 

District Court, Dallas County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. JC-21-01219-

X.

Opinion delivered by Justice Miskel. 

Justices Goldstein and Garcia 

participating.

In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial 

court is AFFIRMED.

It is ORDERED that each party bear its own costs of this appeal.

Judgment entered this 1

st day of March, 2024.