Court Opinion

ID: 3075696
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 01:12:57.799386+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:53:46.549888
License: Public Domain

Opinion filed March 14, 2014

                                              In The

          Eleventh Court of Appeals
                                          ___________

                                   No. 11-13-00312-CV
                                          ___________

                  IN THE INTEREST OF S.D.T., A CHILD

                       On Appeal from the 118th District Court
                                   Howard County, Texas
                               Trial Court Cause No. 48,765

                        MEMORANDUM OPINION
      The trial court entered an order that terminated the parental rights of the
mother of S.D.T. 1 The mother appeals from that order and, in two issues on
appeal, challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the
finding that termination is in the best interest of S.D.T. We affirm.
      Termination of parental rights must be supported by clear and convincing
evidence. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001 (West Supp. 2013). To determine on
appeal if the evidence is legally sufficient in a parental termination case, we review
all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the finding and determine whether
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       The parental rights of S.D.T.’s father had previously been terminated.
a rational trier of fact could have formed a firm belief or conviction that its finding
was true. In re J.P.B., 180 S.W.3d 570, 573 (Tex. 2005). To determine if the
evidence is factually sufficient, we give due deference to the finding and determine
whether, on the entire record, a factfinder could reasonably form a firm belief or
conviction about the truth of the allegations against the parent. In re C.H., 89
S.W.3d 17, 25–26 (Tex. 2002).
      To terminate parental rights, it must be shown by clear and convincing
evidence that the parent has committed one of the acts listed in Section
161.001(1)(A)–(T) and that termination is in the best interest of the child. FAM. §
161.001. In this case, the trial court found that Appellant committed three of the
acts listed in Section 161.001(1).       The trial court found that Appellant had
knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the child to remain in conditions or
surroundings that endangered the physical or emotional well-being of the child,
that Appellant had engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the child with persons
who engaged in conduct that endangered the child’s physical or emotional well-
being, and that Appellant had failed to comply with the provisions of a court order
stating the actions necessary for her to obtain the return of the child. See id.
§ 161.001(1)(D), (E), (O).      Appellant does not challenge the findings made
pursuant to Section 161.001(1). Any one of these unchallenged findings was
sufficient to support termination as long as termination was shown to be in the
child’s best interest. See id. § 161.001. The trial court found that termination was
in the child’s best interest. See id. § 161.001(2).
      The question before us is whether the best interest finding is supported by
legally and factually sufficient evidence. With respect to the best interest of a
child, no unique set of factors need be proved. In re C.J.O., 325 S.W.3d 261, 266
(Tex. App.—Eastland 2010, pet. denied). But courts may use the non-exhaustive
Holley factors to shape their analysis. Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371–72
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(Tex. 1976). These include, but are not limited to, (1) the desires of the child,
(2) the emotional and physical needs of the child now and in the future, (3) the
emotional and physical danger to the child now and in the future, (4) the parental
abilities of the individuals seeking custody, (5) the programs available to assist
these individuals to promote the best interest of the child, (6) the plans for the child
by these individuals or by the agency seeking custody, (7) the stability of the home
or proposed placement, (8) the acts or omissions of the parent that may indicate
that the existing parent-child relationship is not a proper one, and (9) any excuse
for the acts or omissions of the parent. Id. Additionally, evidence that proves one
or more statutory grounds for termination may also constitute evidence illustrating
that termination is in the child’s best interest. C.J.O., 325 S.W.3d at 266.
      The Department of Family and Protective Services became involved with
Appellant in August 2012 when S.D.T. was thirteen years old.               S.D.T. was
removed and placed with her maternal grandmother, who had helped raise S.D.T.
Appellant had verbally abused her mother and made wild accusations against her
mother in the presence of S.D.T. The evidence at trial revealed that Appellant had
mental health issues and that she was not compliant with MHMR. She also had
issues with alcohol and controlled substances. Appellant admitted that she had
used methamphetamine a few times while this case was pending. S.D.T. stated
that she had seen Appellant use drugs. Appellant was ordered to complete various
services as part of her family service plan. She did not complete those services and
failed to make progress to regain custody of S.D.T. At the time of the final
hearing, Appellant was homeless, unemployed, and unable to care for S.D.T.
      S.D.T. expressed a desire to stay with her grandmother who, according to
S.D.T., had raised her. S.D.T. did not feel safe with Appellant. The Department’s
goal for S.D.T. at the time of the final hearing was for S.D.T. to be adopted by her
grandmother.      The grandmother testified that she would adopt S.D.T. if
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Appellant’s parental rights were terminated. The grandmother, the Department’s
caseworker, and S.D.T.’s guardian ad litem all testified that termination of
Appellant’s rights would be in the best interest of S.D.T.
      Based upon the evidence in the record, we cannot hold that the trial court’s
best interest finding is not supported by clear and convincing evidence; the trial
court could reasonably have formed a firm belief or conviction that it would be in
S.D.T.’s best interest for Appellant’s parental rights to be terminated.          The
evidence is both legally and factually sufficient to support the best interest finding.
Appellant’s first and second issues are overruled.
      We affirm the trial court’s order of termination.

                                                     JIM R. WRIGHT
                                                     CHIEF JUSTICE

March 14, 2014
Panel consists of: Wright, C.J.,
Willson, J., and Bailey, J.

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