Opinion ID: 2225128
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: Petitioner currently lives with her boyfriend of 2 years and their 2-month-old son. She will turn 18 in less than 2 months. She testified that she has lived primarily with her boyfriend since their son was born, although, until recently, she would also stay with her mother a few days a week. Petitioner has graduated from high school and has enrolled in college. She testified that she will move into her own apartment this summer with the assistance of a local service organization. She testified that she does not expect her boyfriend to live with her there. She works two jobs, owns a vehicle, and has a cellular telephone. She pays for her own gas, food, and other personal bills. She also pays for expenses incurred in raising her son and helps her boyfriend pay the bills for the apartment. Petitioner does not know her father, and her mother does not help support her. To the contrary, petitioner testified that her mother demands money from her whenever the mother needs it. In the past, her mother has simply taken all the money out of a shared checking account into which petitioner had deposited her earnings. Petitioner and her mother have a strained relationship. Petitioner explained that her mother's new boyfriend does not like her. Also, when petitioner's mother learned of her first pregnancy, her mother became very angry and did not speak to petitioner until after the birth of her son. Petitioner stated that, even now, her mother mostly yells at her and that they do not speak often. Petitioner described in detail for the court how she and her boyfriend had considered all their options and the possible long-term and short-term consequences before making the decision to have an abortion. Petitioner explained that she had decided not to tell her mother about the pregnancy because she did not believe her mother would provide any support or guidance. Petitioner stated that if her mother knew about this pregnancy, she would continue to treat her poorly, and [p]robably worse. The hearing was conducted on April 28, 2010, during which the court and an attorney representing petitioner asked her questions. The court filed its written findings of fact and conclusions of law on April 30, 2010. The district court denied petitioner's request for a waiver of parental notification. The court concluded that petitioner was not mature or capable of giving informed consent. It also determined that an abortion without parental notification was not in her best interests. The court found petitioner had some minimal level of experience at entry level employment, living away from home, and handling her own finances. The court noted that petitioner was not paying rent at her boyfriend's apartment, and thus, it concluded that she was not able to provide for her own residence. The court noted that petitioner did not detail the amount of income she earns or how she apportions and applies her income to her various living expenses. We note that at the hearing, she was not asked to do so. The court stated that although petitioner expressed the desire to be an independent person, [s]he did not elucidate how she intended to attain that particular status as a single, 17-year-old mother of a two month old baby, and, to the contrary, had made some arrangements toward being dependent on agencies and assistance from others. The petition for waiver was denied. Petitioner appeals.