Opinion ID: 1842982
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Continued Custody Would Likely Result In Serious Emotional Or Physical Damage To The Child.

Text: [¶ 18.] Child custody proceedings involving the termination of parental rights to an Indian child are subject to specific minimum federal procedures and standards. ICWA provides: No termination of parental rights may be ordered in such proceeding in the absence of a determination, supported by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, including testimony of qualified expert witnesses, that the continued custody of the child by the parent or Indian custodian is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child. 25 USC § 1912(f). Thus, the burden of proof that must be shown is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. [¶ 19.] The trial court found beyond a reasonable doubt that serious emotional or physical harm to the child would result from continued custody with father. The trial court considered father's lengthy criminal record and his incarceration in the penitentiary. The trial court also recognized father's severe alcohol problem that contributed to a number of his criminal activities and found that there is little likelihood he would be able to maintain sobriety in order to care for this child upon his release from the penitentiary. The ICWA expert testified that custody with father would likely result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child. Furthermore, D.G. was a special needs child that needed extra care and monitoring. Based on this, the trial court determined that father was unfit and the child could not wait for him to address his parenting issues and alcoholism. These findings were all made beyond a reasonable doubt and supported by the record. These findings support the termination of parental rights to this Indian child under ICWA and the trial court's determination that the least restrictive alternative commensurate with the best interests of this child was termination of father's parental rights. [¶ 20.] Affirmed. [¶ 21.] GILBERTSON, Chief Justice, SABERS, KONENKAMP, ZINTER, and MEIERHENRY, Justices, participating.