Court Opinion

ID: 9581956
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:20:45.806213+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:21.306970
License: Public Domain

Judge Wynn
concurring.
I agree that plaintiff has not established the existence of any of the grounds for termination of defendant’s parental rights by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-289.30(e) and that the trial court therefore erred by terminating defendant’s parental rights.
The trial court found the following grounds for termination under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-289.32: neglect, willful abandonment of the children, and willful failure to support the children. The trial court did not make any findings that defendant had neglected the children as of the time of the termination proceeding which is the proper period of inquiry under the statute. See In re Parker, 90 N.C. App. 423, 368 S.E.2d 879 (1988). The petition for termination was filed on 22 May 1992, therefore defendant could not be found to have willfully abandoned his children for six consecutive months preceding the petition when he attended their soccer games in March, 1992. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-289.32(8) (1989).
The trial court also concluded that defendant willfully failed, without justification, to pay for the care, education and support of the children. In In re Roberson, 97 N.C. App. 277, 387 S.E.2d 668 (1990), this Court defined “willful” to mean, inter alia, “ ‘disobedience which imports knowledge and a stubborn resistance.’ ” Id. at 280, 387 S.E.2d at 670 (quoting Jones v. Jones, 52 N.C. App. 104, 110, 278 S.E.2d 260, 264 (1981)). The trial court’s findings of fact do not reveal that defendant’s conduct rose to the level of “willful” failure to pay child support. Therefore, I agree that the trial court’s order should be reversed.
*24I note further the problematical nature of this termination proceeding where there was not a simultaneous petition for adoption of the children by the plaintiff’s new husband. Defendant has presented evidence he is now willing and able to meet his support obligations. If the children are not adopted and defendant father’s parental rights are terminated, only the mother would be legally and financially responsible for the children, an untoward result when defendant has rehabilitated himself and is willing to support the children.