Opinion ID: 2518840
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Hearsay in the final order

Text: Alyssa argues that the trial court erred by incorporating previous `hearsay' testimony into its final order terminating her parental rights. But she does not specify what previous testimony was used in error. The department suggests that Alyssa is challenging the termination order's language incorporating findings based on testimony presented at the adjudication. At the termination stage, a trial court may rely on findings entered at the adjudication stage when they are made by clear and convincing evidence. [39] Here there is no indication that the superior court admitted hearsay testimony at the adjudication hearing  Alyssa gives no examples of the testimony that she characterizes as hearsay and does not point to any objections to such evidence raised at the hearing on adjudication. Because Judge Smith found by clear and convincing evidence that Jaclyn was a child in need of aid at the adjudication hearing and because Alyssa has failed to point out any inadmissible hearsay in the adjudication findings, we find no error in the superior court's reliance on those findings in its final order of termination.