Opinion ID: 1539660
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Unwillingness To Assume Legal And Physical Control

Text: The Family Court found that Barr failed to `manifest an ability and willingness to assume legal and physical custody of the minor' for at least six consecutive months in the year preceding the filing of the TPR petition. The court noted that following Barr's release from prison in October 2007, he made initial contact with DFS, but never followed through and took no initiative to prepare to assume the legal and physical custody of Nancy. Barr argues that he set up an appointment with DFS to case plan immediately upon his release from incarceration in October 2007, but the scheduled meeting conflicted with an appointment with his probation officer. Barr called to reschedule the appointment with DFS, but no one called him back. He argues that when he next contacted DFS in May 2008, after the TPR proceedings had begun, the DFS worker told him that DFS wouldn't be assisting him in reunification with his daughter. Barr's repeated incarcerations have continuously interfered with his ability to care for Nancy. Barr was incarcerated from the time Nancy was brought into DFS custody in November 2006 until October 2007. He was also incarcerated in 2005 and again from January 2008 until April 2008. In addition, at the time of the TPR hearing, Barr was again incarcerated, pending trial on numerous new charges. In the three-month period between October 2007 and January 2008, in which Barr was not incarcerated, he made, at best, one attempt to contact DFS regarding his case. Barr's continual incarceration highlights his failure to be a consistent caretaker for Nancy and his inability to promptly assume custody of Nancy at the time of the TPR hearing. In addition, Barr's conduct in the brief period of time he was not incarcerated indicates that he was unwilling to exert any real effort to work with DFS on his case plan regarding Nancy. Accordingly, there is clear and convincing evidence that Barr failed to manifest an ability and willingness to assume legal and physical custody of the minor for at least six consecutive months in the year preceding the filing of the TPR petition.