Opinion ID: 2550832
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Termination of Mother's Parental Rights

Text: In cases concerning the involuntary termination of parental rights, our review is limited to a determination of whether the decree of the termination court is supported by competent evidence. Adoption of B.D.S., 494 Pa. 171, 431 A.2d 203, 207 (1981). The party petitioning for termination must prove the statutory criteria for that termination by at least clear and convincing evidence. In re T.R., 502 Pa. 165, 465 A.2d 642, 644 (1983). Clear and convincing evidence is defined as testimony that is so clear, direct, weighty, and convincing as to enable the trier of fact to come to a clear conviction, without hesitancy, of the truth of the precise facts in issue. Matter of Sylvester, 521 Pa. 300, 555 A.2d 1202, 1203-04 (1989). Concerning the termination of parental rights due to abandonment pursuant to Section 2511(a), Where the evidence clearly establishes that the parent has failed to perform parental duties or has evidenced a settled purpose of relinquishing parental claim to the child for a period in excess of six months, the individual circumstances and any explanations offered by the parent must be examined to determine if that evidence, in light of the totality of the circumstances, clearly warrants the involuntary termination of parental rights. Adoption of Atencio, 539 Pa. 161, 650 A.2d 1064, 1066 (1994). Finally, should sufficient evidence not exist to support the termination decree, the trial court will be deemed to have committed an abuse of discretion, thus mandating reversal of the decree. See id. at 1068. In Pennsylvania, a petition to terminate a natural parent's rights involuntarily when filed by one parent against the other is only cognizable when it is accompanied by a prospective stepparent's intention to adopt the child. See 23 Pa.C.S. § 2512(b) (providing that, only if a children and youth agency is moving for termination may such termination proceed without a concomitant intent to adopt the child by a prospective stepparent). [8] Under the predecessor to Section 2512, 1 P.S. § 312, repealed and replaced by 23 Pa.C.S. § 2512, effective Jan. 1, 1981, [9] this Court held that Pennsylvania adoption law indicates that a parent may bring a petition for termination of the parental rights of the other parent only when adoption is contemplated. In re B.E., 474 Pa. 139, 377 A.2d 153, 155 (1977); see also In re Burns, 474 Pa. 615, 379 A.2d 535, 541 (1977) (when initiated by a natural parent, termination of the other parent's rights may only occur with a present contemplation of adoption, as the sole purpose of termination is to remove any hindrance to the potential adoption of a child). In B.E., a child's natural mother had sole custody of her child since birth, and had not remarried since her divorce from the child's natural father. Id. at 154. In her petition to terminate father's parental rights, she conceded that she had no plans to remarry or have the child adopted by a stepfather. Id. This Court held that termination of the father's rights could not occur, as Section 312/2512 of the Adoption Act provides for termination of parental rights only in connection with a plan for adoption. Id. [10] Indeed, the Court noted that the legislative purpose behind permitting involuntary termination of parental rights: is not to punish an ineffective or negligent parent, or provide a means for changing the surname of the child. Rather, the purpose of involuntary termination of parental rights is to dispense with the need for parental consent to an adoption when, by choice or neglect, a parent has failed to meet the continuing needs of the child. Id. at 156. Once a natural parent's rights are terminated, the concomitant adoption fosters a new parent-child relationship. Id. Such a rule is sound because [t]ermination of the natural parent's rights prior to adoption and allowance of stepparent adoption is for purposes of protecting the integrity and stability of the new family unit. Adoption of J.D.S., 763 A.2d 867, 871 (Pa.Super.2000). Indeed, where a prospective stepparent, due to separation or pending divorce with the other natural parent, will no longer complete the family unit, the termination of a natural parent's rights due to abandonment must be vacated. Id. at 872. Thus, where no new parent-child relationship is contemplated, the involuntary termination of ... parent rights ... is not permitted under the Adoption Act. B.E., 377 A.2d at 156; see also T.R., 465 A.2d at 644 n. 10 (determining that courts of common pleas should consider, and not merely accept on its face, [the potential stepparent's and his or her spouse's] Declaration of Intent to Adopt, so that the issue of whether they genuinely seek termination solely as an aid to adoption to thereby establish a new parent-child relationship, the singular concern of the Adoption Act, may properly be determined.). [11] As noted above, the supplements to the certified record by Judge Miller reflect an intention by Stepmother to no longer seek adoption of L.J.B., and that Stepmother and Father seem to be irreconcilably separated. While neither the docket nor the certified record reflects a formal praecipe or petition on Stepmother's behalf withdrawing her petition for adoption, the factual circumstances of this case certainly reflect the drastic change in circumstances. To that extent, Attorney Lindsay explained in his November 2009 letter to Judge Miller that Stepmother appears to have some concerns in regard to the adoption, and that the bond between Stepmother and L.J.B. appears, regrettably, to lessen in both frequency and duration as time passes, due to the separation and growing animosity between Father and Stepmother. Letter from David I. Lindsay, Esq. to Judge Craig P. Miller (Nov. 16, 2009) (found at Mother's Brief, Appendix E). Stepmother has related similar proclamations: This is the most difficult decision I have ever had to make and finalizing it is very hard for me. However, at this time I feel it would be best to drop the adoption. I did tell [her attorney, Attorney Lindsay, and Father] this in October 2009. However, I am still receiving all letters, and court documents. Letter from Stepmother to Judge Miller, et al. (Jan. 22, 2010) (found at Mother's Brief, Appendix F.). Stepmother further detailed in the letter the alleged aggressive behavior by Father toward her in the months after their separation. Id. Notwithstanding the absence of a formal praecipe or discontinuance, the facts as exhibited in the letters of November 16, 2009 and January 22, 2010, reflect that Stepmother no longer wishes to adopt L.J.B., and that the family unit of Stepmother and Father appears to be permanently fractured. Under Section 2512 and general Pennsylvania jurisprudence as referenced above, the petition for termination of Mother's rights is potentially moot, as it cannot be effected without Stepmother's attendant adoption of L.J.B. See 23 Pa. C.S. § 2512; B.E., 377 A.2d at 155-56; T.R., 465 A.2d at 644 n. 10; J.D.S., 763 A.2d at 871. This Court should not decide moot cases. See Pap's A.M. v. City of Erie, 571 Pa. 375, 812 A.2d 591, 599 (2002) (This Court generally will not decide moot questions.); see also In re Cain, 527 Pa. 260, 590 A.2d 291, 292 (1991) (The cases presenting mootness problems involve litigants who clearly had standing to sue at the outset of the litigation. The problems arise from events occurring after the lawsuit has gotten under way-changes in the facts or in the law-which allegedly deprive the litigant of the necessary stake in the outcome. The mootness doctrine requires that an actual case or controversy must be extant at all stages of review, not merely at the time the complaint is filed.) (quoting In re Gross, 476 Pa. 203, 382 A.2d 116, 119 (1978)). Without a formal docket entry or findings of fact, however, the final decision regarding mootness cannot be made by this Court upon this record. Nevertheless, as the jurisprudence in this area of the law is clear, it would not be prudent for this Court to render a decision on the merits of Mother's appeal, with the outstanding question of mootness remaining in this case. In dissent, Madame Justice Orie Melvin faults us for ordering a remand to the court of common pleas, rather than examining the propriety of the decree terminating Mother's parental rights, which is the only matter before us. Dissenting Op. at 1125 (Orie Melvin, J., dissenting). Respectfully, we note multiple instances where, in our view, the Dissent's observations miss the mark. First, contrary to the suggestion of the Dissent, the issue of mootness is squarely before us, and is a distinct portion of Mother's challenge to the termination decree. Mother raised a suggestion of mootness at her first possible opportunity: in her reply brief to the Superior Court after Judge Miller supplemented the record. Mother also explicitly raises the potential mootness of the termination proceedings before this Court. See Mother's Brief at 65-67. In support of her contention that this case should be deemed moot, Mother quotes the underlying policy, as elucidated by the Superior Court in J.D.S., 763 A.2d at 872: [N]o gain to the child or society is achieved by permitting the termination of the natural [mother's] rights in order to permit adoption by a [stepmother] who no longer resides with the child's [father]. The policy consideration for permitting stepparent adoption is defeated by separation and contemplation of divorce.  Mother's Brief at 66 (emphasis added). Thus, contrary to the Dissent's assertions, we do not raise mootness as a matter of supererogatory. [12] Moreover, the Dissent objects to a determination of whether this case is moot when its merits can be decided adverse to the party seeking termination, which would conclude this litigation on its merits. There is admittedly something satisfying about just deciding it. However, courts have long restrained themselves from deciding moot cases, including those, as recognized on pages 1126-27 of the Dissent, which become moot during their pendency. See Gross, 382 A.2d at 119 (Pa.1978), quoted in Dissenting Op. at 1126-27 (Orie Melvin, J., dissenting); see also Pap's A.M., 812 A.2d at 599. We do no more here than follow this long enshrined and wise prudential rule. The Dissent also opines that even if this case is moot because of the lack of a stepparent to take the natural parent's place, it can and should be decided. Respectfully, we believe the Dissent has conflated the statutory provision involving agency adoptions, see 23 Pa.C.S. § 2512(b), with private stepparent adoptions. The applicable statutory language provides that a petitioning agency shall not be required to aver that adoption is presently contemplated nor that a person with present intention to adopt exists. See Burns, 379 A.2d at 541 (holding that, when a child is in the custody of an approved adoption agency, no need exists for either the child to be imminently adopted or for the agency to put an adoption plan into motion, as one of the purposes of the Adoption Act of 1970 was to permit an agency to seek termination of parental rights independently of adoption.). Not only is this specifically inapplicable to a private adoption, but by corollary it suggests that when a mother or father seeks to terminate the other parent's rights, the averment that adoption is presently contemplated and that a person has a present intention to adopt is specifically required. Indeed, B.E., 377 A.2d at 155, is strong and unaltered precedent in support of this interpretation. As said above, the idea that the state should create orphans is inimical to our family-centered society. Moreover, the creation of parental termination absent stepparent adoption would provide parents with a new, and in our view dangerous, tactic in heated custody disputes; indeed, one can imagine routine cross-petitions for termination as part of custody battles under the Dissent's suggestion that termination may occur without a ready stepparent. [13] For all of these reasons, we vacate the decree of Judge Miller terminating Mother's parental rights, and remand for an evidentiary hearing regarding the intention of Stepmother to adopt L.J.B. If, as every inference suggests, Stepmother has no intention of adopting L.J.B., in accord with all of the law set forth herein, the petition to terminate Mother's parental rights should be dismissed by the court of common pleas.