Opinion ID: 1944258
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence. Best Interests of the Children

Text: [¶ 19] There is also sufficient evidence to support the court's best interest finding. See 22 M.R.S.A. § 4055(1)(B)(2)(a) (1992). As noted, the court determined that the mother would be in no condition to become a fit parent for the children at any time during the children's minority. The court also found that the children were doing well in their present foster home settings and would be served by long-term foster home placement or adoption into a stable living environment, particularly if they could maintain contact with each other. [¶ 20] The record indicates that at least the three older children, while recognizing that their mother could not care for them, did not want parental rights terminated or were equivocal about whether parental rights should be terminated or not. The court must consider the preferences of older children in making decisions in child protective cases. Thus, 22 M.R.S.A. § 4055(3) (Supp.2000) directs that the court shall consider, but is not bound by, the wishes of a child 12 years of age or older in making an order under this section. [¶ 21] The mother argues that the termination order demonstrates that the court ignored the statutory mandate to consider the wishes of the children. However, the statute requires that the children's wishes be considered by the court, not that they control the court's determination. The trial court's findings reflect that it considered the children's concerns seriously. After considering the children's wishes, the trial court found that termination would be in the children's best interest because of the adverse effect that a continued relationship with the mother would have on the children in light of the mother's manipulative nature and her self-centered focus on her own needs in dealing with her psychosis. Thus, the District Court did not err in the manner in which it addressed the children's wishes. The court's best interest findings are supported by competent evidence and are sufficient to meet the clear and convincing evidence standard. See In re Thomas B., 1998 ME 236, ¶ 2, 719 A.2d 529, 530. The entry is: Judgment affirmed.