Court Opinion

ID: 9766010
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 04:28:39.377632+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:18.325259
License: Public Domain

WILLIAMS, J.,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent and would affirm the grant of TPR in this case, finding the family court correctly found clear and convincing evidence that Mother willfully failed to support Child. See S.C.Code Ann. § 63-7-2570(4) (2010) (stating a ground for TPR exists when “[t]he child has lived outside the home of either parent for a period of six months, and during that time the parent has wilfully failed to support the child” either financially or through material contributions to the child’s care); see also Richland County Dep’t of Soc. Servs. v. Earles, 330 S.C. 24, 32, 496 S.E.2d 864, 868 (1998) (“A ground for [TPR] must be proved by clear and convincing evidence.”). Our courts have held that “[c]onduct of the parent which evinces a settled purpose to forego parental duties may fairly be characterized as ‘willful’ because it manifests a conscious indifference to the rights of the child to receive support and consortium from the parent.” Hooper v. Rockwell, 334 S.C. 281, 297, 513 S.E.2d 358, 367 (1999).
I would find there is sufficient evidence in this record to support the finding that Mother’s failure to support Child was willful. Mother admits that she paid no child support, despite her proven ability .to earn an income based on her testimony that prior to April 2004 she held three jobs simultaneously. In her brief, Mother argues she intentionally remained at home by agreement with her husband, choosing to remain dependent upon Father’s Social Security disability income for all her needs rather than returning to work to help support this child or any of her other six children. Her position is that is it is unfair to consider that she prefers to remain in the home as a housewife instead of working to support Child. No evidence indicates Mother’s presence was required at home to care for Father. In fact, Father testified that despite his disability, he performed lawn care and odd jobs for additional money. With all seven children removed from the home, *339Mother was free to seek gainful employment. However, evidence that she pursued employment is scant and contradictory. She testified that she submitted thirty job applications, but on cross-examination she admitted this was different than the testimony given one month earlier in another TPR action involving one of her other children. Mother does not argue on appeal that she is disabled and unable to work. In fact, Mother testified that during the month prior to the merits hearing, she redecorated Child’s room by repainting, installing carpet, and moving furniture. She testified she did take a day off from redecorating because her back hurt. However, she indicated she was still able to use that time to grocery shop and to submit job applications.
Evidence is plentiful that she eschewed not only employment but also any professional assistance that would have improved her ability to find work. Although Mother initially sought assistance from SCVR, she failed for over fifteen months to take advantage of any of the several programs they offered that could have improved her workplace skills and her employability. Not surprisingly, she even refused offers of transportation to get her to these classes. She attended so infrequently that she was dropped from their rolls. Accordingly, it is clear the inability of Mother to find employment was because Mother had neither the desire nor the intention to provide financial support for Child. Most importantly, Mother testified that she and Father agreed she would not work outside the home even though she had a responsibility to support Child.
Finally, I believe any contributions Mother made to Child’s welfare were not material. Testimony indicated Mother provided a few items for Child during her initial visits. The GAL testified that Mother provided nothing during her last three visits, which occurred during the month immediately preceding the TPR hearing. Consequently, Mother’s efforts to provide for Child were negligible.
Moreover, the record demonstrates the best interest of Child would be served by granting TPR.
Accordingly, I would find there is clear and convincing evidence of her failure to support Child. Mother’s choices indicate a clear and settled purpose to forego her parental *340responsibilities to support Child. Therefore, I would affirm the family court’s decision to terminate Mother’s parental rights.