Opinion ID: 2174046
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Court of Appeals' Action

Text: Without making any reference to the statutory definition of legal parent in Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-1-113, the Court of Appeals determined that Mr. Y. was the legal father of T.K.Y. Relying on its decision in State ex rel. Cihlar v. Crawford, 39 S.W.3d 172 (Tenn.Ct.App. 2000), the Court of Appeals held that because Mr. Y. and Mr. P. both satisfied the presumptions in the paternity statute, Tenn.Code Ann. § 36-2-304(a), the question of legal parenthood was to be determined using a best-interests-type analysis, considering the existence of a family unit, the stability of the family environment, sources of the child's support, the child's relationship with the presumptive father(s), and the child's physical, mental and emotional needs. See Cihlar, 39 S.W.3d at 185. However, as we have explained, that analysis omitted the critical step of recognizing that, pursuant to the statutory scheme, Mr. P. is not merely the biological father but he is also the legal father. Therefore, his parental rights may only be terminated pursuant to the statute, and a best-interests analysis is relevant if and only if termination is appropriate. Unless and until grounds for termination of Mr. P.'s rights have been proven, he is the legal father of T.K.Y.