Opinion ID: 2460175
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Parental Rights in Custody of Children

Text: ¶ 9 A parent's right to control and to have the custody of his children is a fundamental civil right which may not be interfered with without the complete protection of due process safeguards. Halsted v. Sallee, 31 Wash.App. 193, 195, 639 P.2d 877 (1982); see Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 92 S.Ct. 1208, 31 L.Ed.2d 551 (1972); see also In re Welfare of Luscier, 84 Wash.2d 135, 524 P.2d 906 (1974). Jenkins, as a natural parent, has a fundamental liberty interest in his custody and care of K.N.J. In re Custody of C.C.M., 149 Wash.App. 184, 203, 202 P.3d 971 (2009) (citing In re Custody of Smith, 137 Wash.2d 1, 13-14, 969 P.2d 21 (1998), aff'd sub nom. Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 120 S.Ct. 2054, 147 L.Ed.2d 49 (2000)); accord Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 102 S.Ct. 1388, 71 L.Ed.2d 599 (1982). ¶ 10 Procedures used to terminate the relationship between parent and child must meet the requisites of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Lassiter v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 452 U.S. 18, 24-32, 101 S.Ct. 2153, 68 L.Ed.2d 640 (1981). Although due process cannot be precisely defined, the phrase requires fundamental fairness. In re Pers. Restraint Petition of Blackburn, 168 Wash.2d 881, 885, 232 P.3d 1091 (2010). Before the State may completely sever the rights of parents to their natural child, due process requires the State support its allegations by at least clear and convincing evidence. Santosky, 455 U.S. at 748, 102 S.Ct. 1388.