Opinion ID: 1394560
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Failure to grant Brian H. custody of the children

Text: It seems clear throughout this lengthy proceeding that Brian H. was never perceived to be a likely candidate for custody of his biological children. From the beginning of this case, when all allegations regarding the abuse and neglect of these children were related to the conduct of their mother, the children were placed elsewhere. After the petition was amended to reflect conduct that happened during the course of these proceedings, while the Department's focus was on Robin M. and Anthony M., Brian H. complied with the terms and conditions of his improvement period. He was not, however, effectively considered to be a placement for his children. Indeed, though the children were returned to their mother, Brian H. did not have defined custodial time. We glean from the record that the return of the children to the home of their mother was to restore the children's last placement prior to the intervention of the Department through the abuse and neglect petition. The authority for this position is readily ascertainable. We have stated: At the conclusion of the improvement period, the court shall review the performance of the parents in attempting to attain the goals of the improvement period and shall, in the court's discretion, determine whether the conditions of the improvement period have been satisfied and whether sufficient improvement has been made in the context of all the circumstances of the case to justify the return of the child. Syl. pt. 6, In re Carlita B., 185 W.Va. 613, 408 S.E.2d 365 (1991). The right of a parent to the custody of his or her child is foremost in our jurisprudence. We have repeatedly emphasized the importance of parental rights and have stated: `A parent has the natural right to the custody of his or her infant child, and, unless the parent is an unfit person because of misconduct, neglect, immorality, abandonment, or other dereliction of duty, or has waived such right, or by agreement or otherwise has permanently transferred, relinquished or surrendered such custody, the right of the parent to the custody of his or her infant child will be recognized and enforced by the courts. Syllabus, State ex rel. Kiger v. Hancock, 153 W.Va. 404, 168 S.E.2d [798] (1969).' Syllabus pt. 2, Hammack v. Wise, 158 W.Va. 343, 211 S.E.2d 118 (1975). Syl. pt. 1, Nancy Viola R. v. Randolph W., 177 W.Va. 710, 356 S.E.2d 464 (1987). We have further held: In the law concerning custody of minor children, no rule is more firmly established than that the right of a natural parent to the custody of his or her infant child is paramount to that of any other person; it is a fundamental personal liberty protected and guaranteed by the Due Process Clauses of the West Virginia and United States Constitutions. Syl. pt. 1, In re: Willis, 157 W.Va. 225, 207 S.E.2d 129 (1974). With these standards in mind, we now review whether the circuit court erred in placing the children with Robin M. and Anthony M., as opposed to placement with their father, Brian H. The circuit court's order concludes that it was in the best interests of the children to be placed with their mother, Robin M., and her husband, Anthony M. There is no mention whatsoever of why the home of Brian H. was not an appropriate placement for the children, or why it was apparently not even considered. It should have been. Hence, the record before us gives an insufficient view of the rationale of the lower court in making its determination. As such, we are limited in our review and consideration of the best interests of the children. In light of one child's return to her father's home despite the underlying order, we conclude that it was error to summarily place the children in the home of Robin M. and Anthony M. without consideration of the placement of the children with Brian H. The circuit court should forthwith reconvene a dispositional hearing to determine whether the children should live with Robin M. or Brian H. Such a hearing should also consider any updated information on the children and their best interests. D. Timeliness of Adjudication The appellant has raised an issue regarding the length of time between the filing of the amended petition below and the final order in this matter. In light of the resolution of the other issues herein, we do not believe it to now be necessary to address this concern.