Court Opinion

ID: 9587030
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:17:29.30379+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:32:59.928702
License: Public Domain

HUNTER, Judge,
concurs in part and dissents in part.
I concur with the majority as to issues one and two, but because I would hold that the trial court did not err in determining the best interests of the children, I dissent as to issue three, addressed in part V of the majority opinion. I would affirm the trial court’s order in all respects.
The majority determines that the trial court placed an improper burden of proof on respondent during the disposition stage, and that the trial court failed to exercise its discretion in determining whether termination would be in the best interests of the children. The majority evidently bases these conclusions on the fact that the attorney for the guardian ad litem, Ms. Fosmire, told the trial court it was her *492understanding that if the trial court found grounds for termination, respondent then carries the burden of showing why termination is not in the children’s best interests, and if respondent cannot carry this burden, the trial court must terminate respondent’s parental rights.
Indeed, “there is no burden of proof at disposition. The court solely considers the best interests of the child.” In re Dexter, 147 N.C. App. 110, 114, 553 S.E.2d 922, 924 (2001). N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1110(a) (1999) sets forth the proper procedure for the disposition stage, providing that:
Should the court determine that any one or more of the conditions authorizing a termination of the parental rights of a parent exist, the court shall issue an order terminating the parental rights of such parent with respect to the juvenile unless the court shall further determine that the best interests of the juvenile require that the parental rights of the parent not be terminated.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1110(a).
In this case, the record reflects the trial court followed the requirements of the statute. After determining that grounds for termination had been established, the trial court allowed for the introduction of further evidence, which was clearly permissible. See, e.g., In re Blackburn, 142 N.C. App. 607, 613, 543 S.E.2d 906, 910 (2001). Neither party presented further evidence, and the trial court then made a determination that the children’s best interests would be served by terminating respondent’s parental rights. This determination was properly entered in the trial court’s orders as its conclusion of law number four:
It is in the best interests of the juvenile [s] that the parental rights of the mother be terminated and that [their] custody be and remain in and with the Transylvania County Department of Social Services pending further Orders herein.
The majority supports its decision by emphasizing that the trial court responded to Ms. Fosmire that the statute was “generally” the way she described. However, such vague a statement does not amount to conclusive proof that the trial court (1) placed any improper burden on respondent; or (2) wholly failed to realize that it was within its discretion to find that termination would not serve the best interests of the children regardless of whether the grounds for termination had been met or whether respondent presented further *493evidence during disposition. In termination of parental rights cases, as in other cases, “[t]he presumption is in favor of the correctness of the proceedings in the trial court, . . . and the burden is on the appellant to show error.” In re Moore, 306 N.C. 394, 403, 293 S.E.2d 127, 132, reh’g denied, 306 N.C. 565, — S.E.2d — (1982).
The record itself is clear that the trial court appropriately gave the parties an opportunity to present any further evidence during disposition, and thereafter entered a finding determining what the court believed to be in the children’s best interests, in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1110(a). The record fails to show, and respondent has failed to prove, any error in the trial court’s actions. Accordingly, I would affirm the trial court’s orders.