Court Opinion

ID: 7804263
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-08-29 00:15:49.349683+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:29:48.880233
License: Public Domain

NUMBER 13-22-00062-CV

                               COURT OF APPEALS

                     THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                       CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG

                      IN THE INTEREST OF D.D.L., A CHILD

                     On appeal from the 117th District Court
                           of Nueces County, Texas.

                            MEMORANDUM OPINION

               Before Justices Benavides, Hinojosa, and Silva
                   Memorandum Opinion by Justice Silva

       Appellant Candice 1 appeals the trial court’s order granting appellee Meredith’s

amended petition for possession of and access to Danielle. Candice is Danielle’s mother

and Meredith is Danielle’s paternal grandmother. By two issues, Candice argues that

(1) the trial court abused its discretion by failing to dismiss Meredith’s suit for lack of

       1 On our own motion, we refer to the parties and child by aliases. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.

§ 109.002(d).
standing; and (2) if Meredith did have standing, there is insufficient evidence to support

the trial court’s order. 2 We reverse and render.

                                            I.       BACKGROUND

       On July 28, 2021, Meredith filed an original petition seeking to be appointed as a

possessory conservator of Danielle, asserting that denial of such “would significantly

impair the child’s physical health or emotional development.” Meredith further averred that

she “was recently granted access [to Danielle] and . . . that continued and regular access

is in the child’s best interest.” Meredith’s petition noted that the trial court entered a final

order appointing Candice as Danielle’s sole managing conservator in February 2019. On

October 28, 2021, Meredith filed an amended petition, seeking only possession of and

access to Danielle. Meredith again alleged that such failure to grant her possession and

access would significantly impair Danielle’s physical health or emotional well-being “as

further detailed in [her] [a]ffidavit.” In relevant part, Meredith’s affidavit stated:

       The denial of possession of or access to the child by [Meredith] would
       significantly impair the child’s physical health or emotional well-being.

       1. I am the parent of the father of the child the subject of this suit[;]

       2. My son, the father[,] has been incarcerated for more than three months
          prior to the filing of this [p]etition[;]

       3. The mother’s rights have not been terminated[;]

       4. My grandchild lived in my home when [Edward, Danielle’s father,] had
          temporary primary care of e due [sic] mother’s instability[;]

       5. I had a very close relationship with my granddaughter before my son was
          incarcerated and her mother was unstable. I provided a safety net for her.
          Her father was incarcerated due to a report by me made to protect the
          child. I was recently allowed a visit with [Danielle] and she was so
       2   Meredith did not file a brief to assist us in this appeal.

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           happy[,] even relieved[,] that I was visiting. Any reservations that the
           mother may have due to acts of the father are overcome by the my [sic]
           actions against my son to protect my grandchild.[ 3]

Meredith’s amended petition did not allege which provision of the Texas Family Code

granted her standing to seek possession of and access to Danielle. See, e.g., TEX. FAM.

CODE ANN. §§ 102.003 (general standing), 153.432 (permitting a grandparent to file an

original petition or modification seeking only possession and access).

        On October 28, 2021, the trial court held a trial on Meredith’s amended petition via

remote videoconferencing. Candice did not file an answer or appear at trial. The record

contains no evidence indicating whether Candice was provided notice of the trial. While

testifying, Meredith answered affirmatively when asked: “[H]as your granddaughter lived

with you for at least six months even prior to filing this action?” Meredith further testified

that she and Danielle “were so connected” and “spent so much time together.” Meredith

elaborated that “[Danielle] was with [her] every single weekend, and sometimes

throughout the week.” According to Meredith, “things beg[a]n to change significantly” after

Candice was granted “primary care” over Danielle. Meredith explained that Candice

moved and changed her phone number, “[s]o [Meredith] lost touch with them.”

        About six months prior to the hearing, Candice allowed a visit between Meredith

and Danielle. Meredith testified that they were happy to see each other and “[Danielle]

started crying when she jumped into [her] arms.” Meredith stated she was sure that not

allowing visits between her and Danielle would significantly impair Danielle’s emotional

       3 The clerk’s record contains a judgment of conviction that shows Edward was convicted of

indecency with a child by exposure, a third-degree felony, and was sentenced to four years’ confinement.
See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.11(a)(2), (d).
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well-being “because [Danielle] was asking for [Meredith’s] parents, . . . and her cousins,

and everyone.”

       The trial court granted Meredith’s requests and directed Meredith’s counsel to

“[include] the appropriate findings with regards to [Meredith’s] standing” in the order. The

trial court’s order found that Meredith “ha[d] standing pursuant to [§] 102.[]003 of the

Texas Family Code” because “[she] is the biological grandmother of the child of this suit

and . . . exercised care, control[,] and possession of [Danielle] in her home for at least six

months prior to the filing of [her petition].” The order granted Meredith possession of

Danielle on the first, third, and fifth weekend of each month, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on

Saturday and ending at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. This restricted appeal followed. See TEX.

R. APP. P. 30 (permitting a party to file a restricted appeal within six months of an order if

they did not participate in the hearing and did not timely file other postjudgment motions

or notice of appeal).

                                II.     RESTRICTED APPEAL

       “Review by restricted appeal affords an appellant the same scope of review as an

ordinary appeal.” Ex parte E.H., 602 S.W.3d 486, 495 (Tex. 2020). However, before we

may sustain a restricted appeal, the appellant must show that

       (1)    [s]he filed notice of the restricted appeal within six months after the
              judgment was signed;

       (2)    [s]he was a party to the underlying lawsuit;

       (3)    [s]he did not participate in the hearing that resulted in the judgment
              complained of, and did not timely file any post[]judgment motions or
              requests for findings of fact and conclusions of law; and

       (4)    error is apparent on the face of the record.

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Id. (citing Pike-Grant v. Grant, 447 S.W.3d 884, 886 (Tex. 2014) (per curiam)). “For these

purposes, the ‘face of the record’ consists of all the papers that were before the trial court

at the time it rendered judgment.” Ex parte Vega, 510 S.W.3d 544, 547 (Tex. App.—

Corpus Christi–Edinburg 2016, no pet.). An inference that there is error is not sufficient

to support a finding that error is apparent on the face of the record. Id. (citing Ginn v.

Forrester, 282 S.W.3d 430, 431 (Tex. 2009) (per curiam)). “With this limitation, our scope

of review is otherwise the same as in an ordinary appeal.” Id. (citing Tex. Dep’t of Pub.

Safety v. Foster, 398 S.W.3d 887, 890 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2013, no pet.)).

       The record is clear that Candice meets the first three requirements of a restricted

appeal. See TEX. R. APP. P. 30. Accordingly, we must review the record to determine

whether “error is apparent” while applying the appropriate standard of review. Ex parte

E.H., 602 S.W.3d at 495; Ex parte Vega, 510 S.W.3d at 547.

                                 III.    STANDARD OF REVIEW

       Standing, a component of subject-matter jurisdiction, is a threshold issue in a

custody proceeding, which cannot be waived and may be raised at any time. In re K.D.H.,

426 S.W.3d 879, 882 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, no pet.); see Tex. Ass’n of

Bus. v. Tex. Air Control Bd., 852 S.W.2d 440, 445 (Tex. 1993). “Whether a person has

standing is a question of law” that we review de novo. In re K.D.H., 426 S.W.3d at 882;

In re Shifflet, 462 S.W.3d 528, 536 (Tex. App.—Houston [1stDist.] 2015, orig.

proceeding). However, when standing is challenged on a factual basis, we review the

record to determine whether the petitioner has provided satisfactory proof of the requisite

facts to create standing. See In re K.D.H., 426 S.W.3d at 886–87; see also In re M.P.,

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No. 13-21-00013-CV, 2022 WL 1572267, at *3 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg May

19, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op.). “In our de novo review of standing, we must take as true

all evidence favorable to the challenged party and indulge every reasonable inference

and resolve any doubts in the challenged party’s favor.” In re Shifflet, 462 S.W.3d at 536;

(quoting In re McDaniel, 408 S.W.3d 389, 397 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, orig.

proceeding)).

        “The burden of proof on the issue of standing is on the party asserting standing.”

In re S.M.D., 329 S.W.3d 8, 13 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2010, pet. dism’d). “In evaluating

standing, we construe the pleadings in the plaintiff’s favor, but we also consider relevant

evidence offered by the parties.” In re H.S., 550 S.W.3d 151, 155 (Tex. 2018). When

standing by a grandparent is challenged, we do not look to whether the grandparent’s

case has merit—that is whether they will prevail in their suit—but instead consider

whether the grandparent may bring the suit to begin with. Id. “When standing has been

conferred by statute, the statute itself serves as the proper framework for a standing

analysis.” In re S.M.D., 329 S.W.3d at 12. Thus, a grandparent must present satisfactory

proof—a preponderance of the evidence—of the prerequisites identified by the statute.

Id. at 13 (“In a family law case, when the petitioner is statutorily required to establish

standing with ‘satisfactory proof,’ the evidentiary standard is a preponderance of the

evidence.”). “If the petitioner fails to meet [their] burden, the trial court must dismiss the

suit.” Id.

                                  IV.    APPLICABLE LAW

        The relevant standing provisions at issue before us are §§ 102.003, 153.432, and

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153.433 of the Texas Family Code. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 102.003, 153.432, 153.433.

Candice challenges Meredith’s standing under each section; thus, we will review each

provision in turn.

A.     Section 102.003

       Section 102.003 provides general standing to any person who falls into one of its

fourteen categories. Id. § 102.003(a)(1)–(14). As relevant here, Subsection (a)(9)

provides standing for “a person, other than a foster parent, who has had actual care

control, and possession of the child for at least six months ending not more than [ninety]

days preceding the date of the filing of the petition.” Id. § 102.003(a)(9). “In computing the

time necessary for standing under Subsection[] (a)(9) . . ., the court may not require that

the time be continuous and uninterrupted but shall consider the child’s principal residence

during the relevant time preceding the date of commencement of the suit.” Id.

§ 102.003(b). Subsection (a)(9) does not include nonparents who do not share a principal

residence with the child, regardless of how extensively they participate in caring for the

child. In re H.S., 550 S.W.3d at 156. The care, control, and custody exercised under

Subsection (a)(9) does not need to be to the exclusion of the parents. Id. at 160.

B.     Sections 153.432 and 153.433

       Section 153.432 allows a grandparent to file an original suit or modification

“request[ing] possession of or access to a grandchild” “without regard to whether the

appointment of a managing conservator is an issue in the suit.” Id. § 153.432(a), (b).

However,

       the person filing the suit must execute and attach an affidavit on knowledge
       or belief that contains, along with supporting facts, the allegation that denial

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       of possession of or access to the child by the petitioner would significantly
       impair the child’s physical health or emotional well-being. The court shall
       deny the relief sought and dismiss the suit unless the court determines that
       the facts stated in the affidavit, if true, would be sufficient to support the
       relief authorized under [§] 153.433.

Id. § 153.432(c); see TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN § 311.016(2) (“‘Shall’ imposes a duty.”).

       Pursuant to §§ 153.432 and 153.433, a grandparent seeking possession or access

to a grandchild must execute an affidavit that states:

       (1)    at the time the relief is requested, at least one biological or adoptive
              parent of the child has not had that parent’s parental rights
              terminated;

       (2)    the grandparent requesting possession of or access to the child
              overcomes the presumption that a parent acts in the best interest of
              the parent’s child by proving by a preponderance of the evidence that
              denial of possession of or access to the child would significantly
              impair the child’s physical health or emotional well-being; and

       (3)    the grandparent requesting possession of or access to the child is a
              parent of a parent of the child and that parent of the child:

              (A)    has been incarcerated in jail or prison during the three-month
                     period preceding the filing of the petition;

              (B)    has been found by a court to be incompetent;

              (C)    is dead; or

              (D)    does not have actual or court-ordered possession of or
                     access to the child.

TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 153.433(a).

C.     Fit-Parent Presumption and Significant Impairment

       The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States

Constitution “protects the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the

care, custody, and control of their children.” Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 66 (2000)

(plurality op.); see U.S. CONST. amend. XIV. A nonparent seeking conservatorship,
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possession, or access to a child must allege and prove that a parent is unfit before that

person has standing to seek such relief. Troxel, 530 U.S. at 68–69; In re Scheller, 325

S.W.3d 640, 643 (Tex. 2010) (per curiam). A fit parent is entitled to a presumption that

they act in the best interest of their child. Troxel, 530 U.S. at 68; In re C.J.C., 603 S.W.3d

804, 808 (Tex. 2020). The Texas Supreme Court has clarified that the fit-parent

presumption does apply in modification suits, as well. In re C.J.C., 603 S.W.3d at 808.

       The Texas Supreme Court has described a nonparent’s statutory burden of

overcoming the fit parent presumption as “hefty.” In re Scheller, 325 S.W.3d at 643

(referring to TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 153.432,153.433). To overcome the fit-parent

presumption and establish standing, a nonparent must present evidence of “specific,

identifiable behavior or conduct” that will probably result in significant impairment to the

child’s physical health or emotional well-being. Rolle v. Hardy, 527 S.W.3d 405, 420 (Tex.

App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017, no pet.) (quoting In re L.D.F., 445 S.W.3d 823, 830 (Tex.

App.—El Paso 2014, no pet.)). Such identifiable behavior or conduct may include

“[p]hysical abuse, severe neglect, abandonment, drug or alcohol abuse, or immoral

behavior on the part of the parent.” Id.

       “A nonparent cannot meet [her] burden by evidence showing that [s]he would be

a better custodian of the child[], that [s]he has a strong and on-going relationship with the

child[], or that the parent would not have been a proper custodian in the past.” Id.; see

Troxel, 530 U.S. 72–73 (“[T]he Due Process Clause does not permit a State to infringe

on the fundamental right of parents to make child[-]rearing decisions simply because a

state judge believes a ‘better’ decision could be made.”); but see In re L.D.F., 445 S.W.3d

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at 830 (“While past misconduct alone ‘may not be sufficient to show present unfitness,’

we recognize ‘an adult’s future conduct may be somewhat determined by recent past

conduct.’”) (quoting In re De La Pena, 999 S.W.2d 521, 528 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1999,

no pet.)). “‘[L]ingering sadness’ from lack of contact with [a] grandparent[] [does] not

sufficiently demonstrate significant harm to [a] child[] . . . .” In re Scheller, 325 S.W.3d at

643. Nor do frequent visits between grandparents and grandchildren, a grandparent’s

attendance at many of the children’s school activities or other events, or the children

saying they miss the grandparents and want visitation. In re J.M.G., 553 S.W.3d 137, 143

(Tex. App.—El Paso 2018, orig. proceeding); see In re H.L., 613 S.W.3d 722, 726–27

(Tex. App.—Fort Worth, 2020, no pet.) (concluding that mother’s years old history with

Child Protective Services, grandparents’ significant past involvement, and children’s

desire to see grandparents were insufficient to establish significant harm); In re Kelly, 399

S.W.3d 282, 284 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012, orig. proceeding) (concluding

grandparents’ testimony that they had a close relationship with their grandchild was

insufficient to meet their burden to establish standing).

                                      V.      ANALYSIS

A.     General Standing

       As a subissue to her first issue, Candice argues the trial court erred by finding that

Meredith possessed standing to seek possession of and access to Danielle under

§ 102.003 because “[Meredith] exercised care, control[,] and possession of the child in

her home for at least six months prior to the filing of this action.” See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.

§ 102.003(a)(9). Thus, we address standing under § 102.003 first.

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        Although the trial court did not specify which subsection under § 102.003 Meredith

had standing, only two possible subsections require the child reside with the petitioner for

at least six months: subsections (a)(9) and (a)(11). See id. § 102.003(a)(9), (11).

However, subsection (a)(11) also requires that “the child’s guardian, managing

conservator, or parent [be] deceased at the time of the filing of the petition.” Id.

§ 102.003(a)(11). Neither Meredith’s pleadings nor the evidence she presented at the

hearing suggest that Danielle’s guardian, managing conservator, or parent is deceased.

See id. Rather, both the pleadings and evidence demonstrate that both Danielle’s parents

are alive, and no other person has been appointed as a guardian or conservator of

Danielle. See id. Thus, we conclude the trial court could not have found that Meredith had

standing under § 102.003(a)(11). See In re K.D.H., 426 S.W.3d at 886–87.

        In assessing Meredith’s standing under § 102.003(a)(9), we note that the trial court

did not find that Meredith’s care, control, and possession of Danielle in her home ended

within ninety days from the date she filed of her petition, a requirement under

§ 102.003(a)(9). See id. Further, neither Meredith’s pleadings nor testimony included

such information. Rather, Meredith’s amended petition forecloses the possibility.

According to Meredith, after Candice was granted managing conservatorship in February

2019, Meredith lost touch with Candice and Danielle but was permitted a visit about six

months prior to trial. 4 Without evidence that Danielle resided with Meredith within ninety

days of the filing of her petition, the trial court could not have found that Meredith had

        4  Six months prior to the trial would have been approximately April 28, 2021, or ninety-one days
prior to the filing of Meredith’s original petition.

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standing under § 102.003(a)(9). See id.; In re K.D.H., 426 S.W.3d at 886–87; In re S.M.D.,

329 S.W.3d at 13. It is apparent from the face of the record that the trial court’s finding of

Meredith’s standing under § 102.003 was error. See Ex parte E.H., 602 S.W.3d at 495;

Ex parte Vega, 510 S.W.3d at 547. We sustain Candice’s issue challenging the trial

court’s finding under Texas Family Code § 102.003. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 102.003.

B.     Grandparent’s Standing

       By a second subissue, Candice argues the trial court should have dismissed

Meredith’s suit under § 153.432(c). See id. § 153.432(c). Although the trial court did not

find that Meredith had standing under §§ 153.432, 153.433, when reviewing standing we

must construe her pleadings in her favor and consider the entire record. See In re H.S.,

550 S.W.3d at 155. Meredith’s amended petition sought only possession of and access

to Danielle—not conservatorship— and alleged Danielle’s physical health or emotional

well-being would be significantly impaired absent visitation. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.

§§ 153.432, 153.433. Additionally, her amended petition further alleged that Candice’s

rights had not been terminated and that Danielle’s father had been incarcerated during

the three-month period preceding the filing of the petition. See id. §§ 153.432, 153.433.

Each of these facts are required for Meredith to have standing to seek possession of or

access to Danielle under § 153.432. See id. §§ 153.432, 153.433(a). As such, we

construe Meredith’s amended petition as asserting standing under §§ 153.432 and

153.433 and review it accordingly. See In re H.S., 550 S.W.3d at 155.

       However, beyond summarily stating that a lack of visitation between Meredith and

Danielle would significantly impair Danielle’s physical health or emotional well-being,

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Meredith did not include any supporting facts in her affidavit. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.

§ 153.432(c); Rolle, 527 S.W.3d at 420. Meredith failed to identify any specific behavior

or conduct by Candice that would demonstrate that Candice is an unfit parent. See Rolle,

527 S.W.3d at 420. The only facts in Meredith’s affidavit that could be construed to

support a conclusion that Candice was unfit was Meredith’s statement that she “had a

very close relationship with [Danielle] before [Edward] was incarcerated and [Candice]

was unstable.” But evidence that a parent may have been unfit in the past is not sufficient

to meet the grandparent’s burden. See id. Further, evidence that Danielle was happy to

see Meredith or would miss her if she were not permitted to visit is not sufficient to

establish significant impairment and overcome the fit-parent presumption. See id.; see

also In re H.L., 613 S.W.3d at 726–27; In re J.M.G., 553 S.W.3d at 143; In re Kelly, 399

S.W.3d at 284.

      Meredith’s affidavit did not include any supporting facts that demonstrate denial of

possession and access would significantly impair Danielle’s physical health or emotional

well-being, thus the trial court was required to deny Meredith’s requested relief and

dismiss the suit. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 153.432(c),153.433(a). Thus, error is

apparent from the face of the record. See Ex parte E.H., 602 S.W.3d at 495; Ex parte

Vega, 510 S.W.3d at 547. We sustain the remainder of Candice’s first issue.

      As a third subissue, Candice also complains that Meredith’s affidavit was defective

because it included Meredith and the notary’s typed names, rather than signatures, see

TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 312.011(1), did not include the notary’s seal, see id.

§ 406.013(a), and bears no indication that the affidavit was completed using the online

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notarization process, see id. §§ 406.109(d), 406.110(d). However, because we conclude

the affidavit failed to conform to the requirements set forth under §§ 153.432 and 153.433

of the Texas Family Code, we do not address this subissue. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.

Similarly, we need not reach Candice’s second issue arguing that the evidence was

factually insufficient to support the trial court’s order. See id.

                                            VI.     CONCLUSION

          We reverse the trial court’s judgment and render an order denying Meredith the

relief she requested and dismissing her suit without prejudice. 5

                                                                            CLARISSA SILVA
                                                                            Justice

Delivered and filed on the
25th day of August, 2022.

          5   This memorandum opinion should not be construed as preventing Meredith from filing suit in the
future.

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