Case Name: BAUGH v. ROBINSON et al.
Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1986-07-01
Citations: 179 Ga. App. 571
Docket Number: 71888
Parties: BAUGH v. ROBINSON et al.
Judges: Banke, C. J., Deen, P. J., Birdsong, P. J., Carley, Pope, and Sognier, JJ., concur. McMurray, P. J., concurs in the judgment only. Beasley, J., dissents.
Reporter: Georgia Appeals Reports
Volume: 179
Pages: 571–573

Head Matter:
71888.
BAUGH v. ROBINSON et al.
(346 SE2d 918)

Opinion:
Benham, Judge.
Appellant brings this appeal from the trial court's order terminating his parental rights in his daughter and granting the adoption petition of the child's maternal grandparents. The hearing which culminated in the trial court's order was not reported; therefore, no transcript is available for review. In its order the trial court found the child's mother to have given voluntary written consent to the adoption (see OCGA § 19-8-3 (a) (3)); appellant to have wilfully abandoned the child by failing to support the child for the twelve-month period preceding the filing of the adoption proceeding; and it to be in the child's best interests to grant the adoption petition. See OCGA § 19-8-6 (b).
Appellant contends he was denied due process, a fair and impartial hearing, and the opportunity to present his case. He also maintains the trial court was biased. Each of appellant's enumerated errors requires review of the hearing transcript or the accepted substitute therefor. See OCGA § 5-6-41 (g) and (i). In the absence of a transcript, we must assume the trial court's findings were supported by evidence presented (Gaskins v. Fowler, 171 Ga. App. 681 (2) (320 SE2d 890) (1984)), and the actions taken by the trial court during the hearing were appropriate. See Burns v. Barnes, 154 Ga. App. 802 (270 SE2d 57) (1980).
As pointed out by the dissent, the Department of Human Resources is statutorily required to prepare a report and recommendation concerning the adoption petition. OCGA § 19-8-11 and 19-8-12. However, there is no requirement that the report be entered into evidence, (Hayes v. Watkins, 163 Ga. App. 589 (3) (295 SE2d 556) (1982)), and there was no issue concerning the report raised at trial or on appeal. Therefore, the lack of such a report in the record is not reversible error.
Judgment affirmed.
Banke, C. J., Deen, P. J., Birdsong, P. J., Carley, Pope, and Sognier, JJ., concur. McMurray, P. J., concurs in the judgment only. Beasley, J., dissents.