Court Opinion

ID: 5125193
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-10 22:14:55.565752+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:48.564083
License: Public Domain

11/10/2021
                IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                               AT JACKSON
                     Assigned on Briefs September 1, 2021

                                    IN RE LAUREN F.

                Appeal from the Chancery Court for Henderson County
                      No. 27367    James F. Butler, Chancellor

                              No. W2020-01732-COA-R3-PT

This case involves a petition to terminate the parental rights of a child’s biological father
and for step-parent adoption. The trial court terminated the biological father’s rights on
the ground of abandonment for failure to visit, abandonment for failure to support, and
wanton disregard. The court held that termination was in the child’s best interest.
Biological father appeals asserting that the trial court erred in not granting him a
continuance on the day of trial and that the trial court erred in its best interest determination.
We vacate the trial court’s conclusion that termination was warranted on the grounds of
abandonment by failure to support and abandonment by engaging in conduct that exhibited
wanton disregard for the child’s welfare, but we affirm the trial court’s conclusion that the
biological father’s rights should be terminated on the ground of failure to visit in the four
months preceding his incarceration and that terminating his parental rights is in the best
interest of the child. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s termination of the biological
father’s parental rights.

Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Chancery Court Vacated in
                   Part, Reversed in Part, and Affirmed in Part

ANDY D. BENNETT, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which J. STEVEN STAFFORD,
P.J., W.S., and THOMAS R. FRIERSON, II, J., joined.

Samuel Wayne Hinson, Lexington, Tennessee, for the appellant, Nicholas F.

Leanne Austin Thorne, Lexington, Tennessee, for the appellees, Jessica R. and James R.
                                               OPINION

       Jessica R.1 (“Mother”) is the biological mother of Lauren F. (born in February
2012); Nicholas F. (“Father”) is the child’s biological father. Mother and Father were
never married. At the time of the child’s birth, Father was in “Teen Challenge,” a drug
rehabilitation program. When Father completed the rehabilitation program, Lauren was
three months old, and Father and Mother resumed a relationship. Father remained involved
in Lauren’s life for three years until he relapsed and began using methamphetamines again.
Mother discontinued her relationship with Father in 2015.

       On April 27, 2016, Mother and Father entered into an agreed order regarding
parenting time for Lauren. Mother was designated as primary residential parent, and Father
received visitation every other weekend from Friday at 5:00 p.m. until Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
The agreed order allowed Mother to request Father to take “up to six (6) random nail drug
screens for up to the first twenty-four (24) months following entry of this Order.” An Order
for Wage Assignment was also entered on April 27, 2016 setting Father’s monthly child
support obligation at $285 per month with an additional $50 per month for
“arrearages/medical bills.”

       In the spring of 2018, Father stopped exercising his weekend parenting time with
Lauren and did not provide Mother with a reason for discontinuing visitation. After
missing approximately eight consecutive weeks of visitation, Father attended Lauren’s
kindergarten graduation in May 2018. According to Mother, Father appeared “high” at the
graduation, and she requested him to take a drug test. Father took a drug test that was
positive for methamphetamines. Mother testified that she would have allowed Father to
resume visitation with the child if he produced a negative drug screen, which he failed to
do. Father sent Lauren a Christmas gift in December 2018, but he did not see her in person
at any point after the May 2018 graduation.

      Father was arrested in January 2019 for possession of hydrocodone and drug
paraphernalia. On January 23, 2019, he pled guilty to “simple possession,” a class A
misdemeanor.

       In March 2019, Mother married James R. (“Step-Father”); they have one daughter
together. On April 23, 2019, Mother and Step-Father (collectively referred to as
“Petitioners”) filed a Petition for Termination of Parental Rights and Adoption by a Step-
Parent asserting the following grounds for termination of Father’s parental rights:

        1. General Abandonment as defined in T.C.A. § 36-1-102(1)(a)(i) and [sic]
           in that he has willfully failed to make reasonable payments towards the

  1
    “Because this appeal involves a minor, all participants will be identified in a manner that protects the
privacy of the minor.” In re Bentley D., 537 S.W.3d 907, 909 n.2 (Tenn. 2017).
                                                   -2-
          child’s support (other than token payments); for a period exceeding four
          (4) consecutive months immediately preceding the filing of this Petition
          and[] has failed to visit the child for a period exceeding four (4)
          consecutive months immediately preceding the filing of this Petition.
       2. The Respondent is incompetent to adequately provide for the further care
          and supervision of the child because the Respondent’s mental condition
          is presently so impaired and so likely to remain so that it is unlikely that
          the Respondent will be able to assume or resume care of and
          responsibility for the child in the near future[2], to wit:
              a. Father has had an ongoing and persistent addiction to
                 methamphetamine which has resulted in his repeated
                 incarceration;
              b. Father has again relapsed and has been incarcerated multiple times
                 in the last three (3) months.

The Return on Service of Summons shows the petition was served on Father at the
Henderson County Jail where he was incarcerated.

       On April 30, 2019, Father requested the trial court to appoint him a lawyer and also
submitted a Uniform Affidavit of Indigency in which he swore, under penalty of perjury,
that he had no income. The trial court entered an order appointing Father counsel on May
17, 2019. The Order was mailed to Father at “J[A]COA,” a drug rehabilitation facility in
Jackson, Tennessee. The order included his appointed counsel’s contact information and
required Father to “maintain contact with counsel, cooperate with counsel, and keep
counsel apprised of Respondent’s contact information.”

      Father filed an answer to the petition for termination on January 21, 2020, generally
denying the grounds for termination but asserting no affirmative defenses. See Tenn. Code
Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(I) (requiring “[t]he absence of willfulness” to the ground of

   2
      Although not cited explicitly in the petition, this ground for termination derives from Tenn. Code
Ann. § 36-1-113(g)(8)(B) (2019) which states:

       The court may terminate the parental or guardianship rights of that person if it determines
       on the basis of clear and convincing evidence that:

       (i) The parent or guardian of the child is incompetent to adequately provide for the further
       care and supervision of the child because the parent’s or guardian’s mental condition is
       presently so impaired and is so likely to remain so that it is unlikely that the parent or
       guardian will be able to assume or resume the care of and responsibility for the child in the
       near future; and

       (ii) That termination of parental or guardian rights is in the best interest of the child[.]

                                                    -3-
abandonment to be “an affirmative defense pursuant to Rule 8.03 of the Tennessee Rules
of Civil Procedure”). On that same day, Father filed a Motion for Visitation stating, in
part:

   1. That this matter is currently before this Honorable Court on a Petition to
      Terminate Parental Rights and Adoption by Step-Parent.
   2. That prior to the filing of said Petition, [Father] was incarcerated in the
      Henderson County Sheriff’s Department and could not exercise visitation.
   3. That since the filing of said Petition, [Father] has been released and is
      working.
   4. That since being released, [Father] has consistently attempted to visit with
      his minor child.
   5. That, upon information and belief, Petitioners are refusing to allow [Father]
      to visit or have any contact whatsoever with said minor child.

       On September 9, 2019, Father answered interrogatories propounded by the
Petitioners. In response to an interrogatory asking whether he has “medical, psychological,
alcohol, substance abuse, or gambling problems[,]” he stated: “Yes. I have had a problem
with Meth, marijuana and pills for the last 15 years. I’ve been to Memphis Recovery
Center, Teen Challenge and JACOA. I have a dual diagnosis, which is substance
abuse/mental health disorder.”

       On August 6, 2020, the parties entered into an agreed order to set the case for trial
on November 19, 2020. On the date of trial, Father’s attorney presented an oral motion for
continuance, stating:

       I was appointed to represent [Father] several months ago. We initially had
       stayed in good contact. We answered interrogatories, and then I had lost
       contact with [Father]. . . . and found out recently that he was incarcerated in
       August of this year, and as such - - because of that obviously [Father] and I
       have not had an opportunity to meet in several months and discuss evidence
       and witnesses. And on that basis for the record we are asking for a
       continuance on this matter to give me time now that I know where he is to
       prepare for the case.

The trial court denied the motion for continuance and proceeded with Father, Mother, and
Step-Father testifying.

       On December 3, 2020, by letter sent to the parties, the trial court issued findings of
fact and conclusions of law and requested Petitioner’s counsel to prepare an order
incorporating the court’s ruling for entry. An order terminating Father’s parental rights
was entered on December 17, 2020. The court determined that the “relevant period” for
abandonment was December 23, 2018 through April 23, 2019, the four-month period

                                            -4-
before the petition was filed. In a separate section, the court summarized the grounds for
termination as follows:

       1. General abandonment as defined in Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-1-
          102(1)(a)(i) – failure to make reasonable payments toward the child’s
          support other than token payments and failure to visit for a period
          exceeding four consecutive months immediately preceding the filing of
          the Petition.
       2. Persistent conditions, to wit, Father’s mental capacity is so impaired that
          he is unlikely to be able to assume or resume care of and responsibility
          for the child in the near future because of on going and persistent
          addiction to methamphetamine resulting in his repeated incarceration.

The court summarized the testimony of the parties and then made the following conclusions
of law:

       The Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the Father has
       willfully failed to support the child during the relevant period and before that,
       and according to the Exhibit 3, there were no further support payments after
       August, 2019. The Court finds that the Father has also willfully failed to
       visit the child during the relevant period or to seek visitations during that
       time, or before that time up until he requested visitations after the Petition
       for Termination has been filed and served upon him and he had obtained
       counsel. The Court further finds by clear and convincing evidence that prior
       to the Father’s incarceration, that he engaged in conduct that exhibits a
       wanton disregard[3] for the welfare of the child and that this is demonstrated
       by the fact he is incarcerated at the time of trial.

The trial court made no conclusions of law regarding the allegation related to mental
incompetence. The court then concluded that Petitioners had proven by clear and
convincing evidence that termination of Father’s rights was in the child’s best interest.
Father appeals raising two issues for our review: whether the trial court erred in failing to
grant him a continuance and whether the trial court incorrectly found that termination was
in the child’s best interest.

  3
      This ground of termination derives from Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(A)(iv) which states, in
pertinent part:

       [T]he parent or guardian has been incarcerated during all or part of the four (4) months
       immediately preceding the institution or such action or proceeding, and . . . the parent or
       guardian has engaged in conduct prior to incarceration that exhibits a wanton disregard for
       the welfare of the child.
                                                  -5-
                                  STANDARD OF REVIEW

       Under both the federal and state constitutions, a parent has a fundamental right to
the care, custody, and control of his or her own child. Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 651
(1972); In re Angela E., 303 S.W.3d 240, 249-50 (Tenn. 2010); Nash-Putnam v. McCloud,
921 S.W.2d 170, 174-75 (Tenn. 1996) (citing Nale v. Robertson, 871 S.W.2d 674, 678
(Tenn. 1994)). Although this right is fundamental, it is not absolute and may be terminated
in certain situations. In re Angela E., 303 S.W.3d at 250. Our legislature has identified
circumstances “‘in which the state’s interest in the welfare of a child justifies interference
with a parent’s constitutional rights by setting forth grounds on which termination
proceedings can be brought.’” In re Jacobe M.J., 434 S.W.3d 565, 568 (Tenn. Ct. App.
2013) (quoting In re W.B., IV, Nos. M2004-00999-COA-R3-PT, M2004-01572-COA-R3-
PT, 2005 WL 1021618, at *7 (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 29, 2005)); see Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-
1-113(g).

        Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-1-113 provides the grounds and procedures
for terminating parental rights. First, a petitioner seeking to terminate parental rights must
prove that at least one ground for termination exists. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(c)(1); In
re Angela E., 303 S.W.3d at 251. Second, a petitioner must prove that terminating parental
rights is in the child’s best interest. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(c)(2); In re Valentine, 79
S.W.3d 539, 546 (Tenn. 2002).

        The termination of a parent’s rights is one of the most serious decisions courts make
because “[t]erminating parental rights has the legal effect of reducing the parent to the role
of a complete stranger,” In re W.B., IV, 2005 WL 1021618, at *6, “and of ‘severing forever
all legal rights and obligations of the parent or guardian.’” Id. (quoting Tenn. Code Ann. §
36-1-113(l)(1)). Consequently, a parent has a constitutional right to fundamentally fair
procedures during termination proceedings. In re Hannah C., No. M2016-02052-COA-R3-
PT, 2018 WL 558522, at *2 (Tenn. Ct. App. Jan. 24, 2018) (citing In re Carrington H.,
483 S.W.3d 507, 522 (Tenn. 2016)).

       Tennessee law ensures fundamental fairness in termination proceedings by
requiring a heightened standard of proof—clear and convincing evidence. See Tenn. Code
Ann. § 36-1-113(c)(1); In re Carrington H., 483 S.W.3d at 522. Before a parent’s rights
may be terminated, a petitioner must prove both the grounds and the child’s best interest
by clear and convincing evidence. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(c); In re Valentine, 79
S.W.3d at 546. “Clear and convincing evidence ‘establishes that the truth of the facts
asserted is highly probable, and eliminates any serious or substantial doubt about the
correctness of the conclusions drawn from the evidence.’” In re Serenity B., No. M2013-
02685-COA-R3-PT, 2014 WL 2168553, at *2 (Tenn. Ct. App. May 21, 2014) (quoting In
re M.J.B., 140 S.W.3d 643, 653 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004)). “The requirement of clear and
convincing evidence ‘minimizes the risk of an erroneous decision’ in a case with the

                                            -6-
profound consequences of terminating parental rights.” In re Mattie L., 618 S.W.3d 335,
342 (Tenn. 2021) (quoting In re Keri C., 384 S.W.3d 731, 744 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010)).

       We review the trial court’s findings of fact de novo with a presumption of
correctness unless the evidence preponderates otherwise. TENN. R. APP. P. 13(d); In re
Serenity B., 2014 WL 2168553, at *2. In light of the heightened standard of proof, we must
then make our own determination “as to whether the facts, either as found by the trial court
or as supported by a preponderance of the evidence, amount to clear and convincing
evidence of the elements necessary to terminate parental rights.” In re Carrington H., 483
S.W.3d at 524.

        Father also appeals the trial court’s refusal to grant him a continuance. We review
a “trial court’s decision to deny a motion for continuance under the abuse of discretion
standard of review.” In re A’Mari B., 358 S.W.3d 204, 213 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011) (citing
State Dep’t of Children’s Servs. v. V.N., 279 S.W.3d 306, 317 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008)). A
trial court abuses its discretion “only when it ‘applie[s] an incorrect legal standard, or
reache[s] a decision which is against logic or reasoning that cause[s] an injustice to the
party complaining.’” Eldridge v. Eldridge, 42 S.W.3d 82, 85 (Tenn. 2001) (quoting State
v. Shirley, 6 S.W.3d 243, 247 (Tenn. 1999)).

                                          ANALYSIS

       A. Motion for Continuance.

        Father asserts the trial court erred when it denied his motion for continuance to
“properly prepare for trial.” Father presented his motion on the day of trial after failing to
maintain contact with his appointed counsel after his incarceration. Father blames his
failure to maintain contact with his attorney on the “pandemic and policies of the
Henderson County Sheriff Department at the time.” In his brief, Father does not point to
any specific policy that interfered with his ability to maintain contact with his counsel, and
he does not indicate he put forth any effort to connect with his counsel from jail. He simply
states that he did not know his counsel’s phone number.

        Father was in communication with his counsel prior to his incarceration and was
aware of his duty to “maintain contact with counsel, cooperate with counsel, and keep
counsel apprised of [his] contact information.” In refusing to grant the continuance, the
trial court acknowledged its obligation to ensure that hearings on petitions to terminate
parental rights are heard expeditiously. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(k) (“The court
shall ensure that the hearing on the petition takes place within six (6) months of the date
that the petition is filed, unless the court determines an extension is in the best interests of
the child.”); Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-124(c) (“It is the intent of the general assembly that
the permanency of the placement of a child who is the subject of a termination of parental
rights proceeding or an adoption proceeding not be delayed any longer than is absolutely

                                             -7-
necessary consistent with the rights of all parties, but that the rights of the child to
permanency at the earliest possible date be given priority over all other civil litigation . . .
.”). The petition for termination was filed in April 2019, and the trial was held in November
2020. We cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in declining to grant Father
a continuance, especially where Father was informed by court order of his duty to maintain
contact with his counsel and was physically present to testify at the hearing. We affirm the
trial court’s denial of Father’s motion for a continuance.

       B. Grounds for Termination of Father’s Parental Rights.

       Although Father has not raised the grounds for termination of his parental rights as
a separate issue on appeal, we must “review the trial court’s findings as to each ground for
termination and as to whether termination is in the child’s best interest, regardless of
whether the parent challenges those findings.” In re Carrington H., 483 S.W.3d at 525-
26.

       We begin by analyzing the manner in which the grounds for terminating Father’s
parental rights were pled in the petition. Regarding the importance of properly alleging
the grounds for termination, this Court has held as follows:

       Parental rights can only be terminated on grounds that were alleged in the
       termination petition. See In re M.J.B., 140 S.W.3d 643, 655-56 (Tenn. Ct.
       App. 2004). Notice is “a fundamental component of due process.” In re W.B.,
       IV, M2004-00999-COA-R3-PT, 2005 WL 1021618, at *13 (Tenn. Ct. App.
       Apr. 29, 2005); see also Keisling v. Keisling, 92 S.W.3d 374, 377 (Tenn.
       2002) (“Basic due process requires ‘notice reasonably calculated under all
       the circumstances, to apprise interested parties of the pendency of the action
       and afford them an opportunity to present their objections.’” (citation
       omitted)). Pleadings should give the opposing party enough notice of the
       issues to prepare a defense. Keisling, 92 S.W.3d at 377. In the context of
       parental termination, due process requires that the parent be notified of the
       alleged grounds for termination. In re Jeremiah N., No. E2016-00371-COA-
       R3-PT, 2017 WL 1655612, at *8 (Tenn. Ct. App. May 2, 2017).

In re Ashlynn H., No. M2020-00469-COA-R3-PT, 2021 WL 2181655, at *3 (Tenn. Ct.
App. May 28, 2021). From our review of the grounds set forth in the petition, Mother and
Step-Father alleged three grounds for termination of Father’s parental rights: 1)
abandonment by failure to visit in the four months preceding the filing of the petition (Tenn.
Code Ann. §§ 36-1-113(g)(1); 36-1-102(1)(A)(i)); 2) abandonment by failure to support in
the four months preceding the filing of the petition (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 36-1-113(g)(1);
36-1-102(1)(A)(i)); and 3) Father’s mental condition prevented him from being able to
resume caring for the child (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(g)(8)).

                                             -8-
       In its written findings of fact and conclusions of law, the trial court listed the
following grounds for termination of Father’s rights.

   1. General abandonment as defined in Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-1-
      102(1)(a)(i) – failure to make reasonable payments toward the child’s
      support other than token payments and failure to visit for a period exceeding
      four consecutive months immediately preceding the filing of the Petition.
   2. Persistent conditions, to wit, Father’s mental capacity is so impaired that he
      is unlikely to be able to assume or resume care of and responsibility for the
      child in the near future because of on going and persistent addiction to
      methamphetamine resulting in his repeated incarceration.

Then, in its conclusions of law, the trial court held the following three grounds for
termination of father’s parental rights were proven by clear and convincing evidence:

      The Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the Father has willfully
      failed to support the child during the relevant period . . . . The Court finds
      that the Father has also willfully failed to visit the child during the relevant
      period . . . . The Court further finds by clear and convincing evidence that
      prior to the Father’s incarceration that the Father engaged in conduct that
      exhibits a wanton disregard for the welfare of the child . . . .

(Emphasis added). We will review each ground the trial court relied upon to terminate
Father’s parental rights in turn.

                 a. Abandonment, Generally.

       A court may terminate parental rights when “[a]bandonment by the parent or
guardian, as defined in § 36-1-102, has occurred.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(g)(1).
Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-1-102(1)(A) sets forth five different definitions of
“abandonment” upon which termination of parental rights can be predicated. The petition
for termination of Father’s rights relied upon Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(A)(i) as
grounds for termination which defines abandonment as follows:

      For a period of four (4) consecutive months immediately preceding the filing
      of a proceeding, pleading, petition, or any amended petition to terminate the
      parental rights of the parent or parents or the guardian or guardians of the
      child who is the subject of the petition for termination of parental rights or
      adoption, that the parent or parents or the guardian or guardians either have
      failed to visit or have failed to support or have failed to make reasonable
      payments toward the support of the child[.]

                                           -9-
However, the record shows that Father was incarcerated at the time Mother and Step-Father
filed the petition to terminate his rights. Therefore, Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(A)(iv)4
provided the applicable definition of abandonment:

        A parent or guardian is incarcerated at the time of the institution of an action
        or proceeding to declare a child to be an abandoned child, or the parent or
        guardian has been incarcerated during all or part of the four (4) months
        immediately preceding the institution of such action or proceeding, and either
        has failed to visit or has failed to support or has failed to make reasonable
        payments toward the support of the child for four (4) consecutive months
        immediately preceding such parent’s or guardian’s incarceration, or the
        parent or guardian has engaged in conduct prior to incarceration that exhibits
        a wanton disregard for the welfare of the child.

As explained below, neither Petitioners’ failure to plead abandonment by failure to support
and visit under subpart (iv), nor the trial court’s erroneous use of abandonment by failure
to support and visit under subpart (i) to terminate Father’s rights is a basis for reversal in
this case.

       We begin by defining the applicable four-month period during which we must
examine whether Father visited and supported the child. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §
36-1-102(1)(A)(iv) the court was required to consider the four-month period immediately
preceding Father’s incarceration. Although the trial court acknowledged that “Father was
served with the Petition and a summons on April 24, 2019 in person at the Henderson
County Jail where he was incarcerated[,]” the court did not factor in Father’s incarceration
when defining the relevant period for abandonment. Instead, the court looked at the four-
month period before the petition was filed: December 23, 2018 through April 23, 2019.5
Although not explicitly stated in the record, a review of Father’s testimony and an
Amended Warrant dated June 29, 2020, shows that Father was incarcerated on April 9,
2019 when his suspended sentence from January 23, 2019 for “simple possession” was
reinstated. Specifically, he testified as follows:

        Q. . . . it said that you – your sentence began on January the 23rd of 2019 -
        -

   4
      Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-1-102 has been amended several times in recent years.
Throughout this opinion we apply the version of the statute that was in effect on April 23, 2019, the date
the petition was filed.
  5
     We note that the applicable four-month period under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(A)(i), had it
applied in this case, should have been December 23, 2018 through April 22, 2019. See In re Jacob C.H.,
No. E2013-00587-COA-R3-PT, 2014 WL 689085, at *6 (Tenn. Ct. App. Feb. 20, 2014) (holding that the
applicable four-month time period is “the four months preceding the day the petition to terminate parental
rights is filed but excludes the day the petition is filed”).
                                                 - 10 -
       A.   Uh-huh
       Q.   - - and you were restarted on that sentence on April the 9th of 2019?
       A.   Uh-huh.
       Q.   And that would be for your failure to report; is that correct?
       A.   Yes, ma’am.
       Q.   So she restarted you because you failed to report?
       A.   Uh-huh.
       Q.   Three months after the sentence began or a little less?
       A.   Uh-huh.
       Q.   Is that a yes? I’m sorry.
       A.   Yes, ma’am.

Therefore, for purposes of establishing abandonment, the proper period to consider was
December 9, 2018 to April 8, 2019, the four-month period preceding Father’s
incarceration. See In re D.H.B., No. E2014-00063-COA-R3-PT, 2015 WL 1870303, at *8
(Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 23, 2015) (interpreting the four-month period “immediately
preceding” incarceration as ending on the day before the actual date of incarceration).
However, we have concluded that the trial court’s error in considering the incorrect four-
month period (which was a difference of only thirteen days) is harmless, because the record
and the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law contain sufficient evidence to
examine whether Father visited and supported the child during the correct four-month
period. See In re J’khari F., No. M2018-00708-COA-R3-PT, 2019 WL 411538, *9 (Tenn.
Ct. App. Jan. 31, 2019) (identifying cases in which this Court has determined that a
miscalculation of the relevant four-month period can be considered harmless); In re Steven
W., No. M2018-00154-COA-R3-PT, 2018 WL 6264107, at *12 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 28,
2018) (holding that the court’s use of an incorrect relevant time period could be considered
harmless error where the proof of abandonment encompassed the correct time period); In
re Navada N., 498 S.W.3d 579, 600 n.12 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016) (considering the grounds
for termination even though the four-month period was miscalculated in “the interest of
providing a speedy resolution for [the child].”); see also Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-
102(1)(A)(iv) (2019) (noting that a finding that the parent has abandoned the child “in
excess of four (4) months that would necessarily include the four (4) months of
nonincarceration immediately prior to the institution of the action, but which does not
precisely define the relevant four-month period, shall be sufficient to establish
abandonment.”); but see In re Haskel S., No. M2019-02256-COA-R3-PT, 2020 WL
6780265, at *6 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 18, 2020) (reversing the grounds of abandonment
because DCS did not arrive at the correct statutory four-month period before filing its
petition for termination of parental rights in addition to stating at trial that it was
withdrawing these grounds for termination). We proceed to determine whether there is
clear and convincing evidence to support a holding that Father failed to visit and support
the child from December 9, 2018 through April 8, 2019.

                                            - 11 -
                  b. Abandonment by Failure to Visit

         The trial court found clear and convincing evidence that Father abandoned the child
by failing to visit. A failure to visit occurs when a parent, “for a period of four (4)
consecutive months, [fails] to visit or engage in more than token visitation. That the parent
had only the means or ability to make very occasional visits is not a defense to failure to
visit if no visits were made during the relevant four-month period[.]” Tenn. Code Ann. §
36-1-102(1)(E). “Token visitation” is “visitation, under the circumstances of the individual
case, [that] constitutes nothing more than perfunctory visitation or visitation of such an
infrequent nature or of such short duration as to merely establish minimal or insubstantial
contact with the child[.]” Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(C). At trial, Father admitted
that he had not seen his daughter since her kindergarten graduation in May 2018, nearly a
year before his incarceration, but he testified that he was prevented from visiting with
Lauren by Mother. Therefore, we must determine whether Father’s failure to visit his
daughter was willful.

        Prior to July 2018, a petitioner seeking to terminate a parent’s rights based on
abandonment bore the burden of proving that the parent’s failure to support was “willful.”
See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(A)(i) (2016). However, the Tennessee General
Assembly amended Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(A)(i) on July 1, 2018, removing the
willfulness requirement from the definition of abandonment by failure to visit. See 2018
Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 875, § 2. The version of the statute applicable to Father in this case
states:

       It shall be a defense to abandonment for failure to visit or failure to support
       that a parent or guardian’s failure to visit or support was not willful. The
       parent or guardian shall bear the burden of proof that the failure to visit or
       support was not willful. Such defense must be established by a
       preponderance of the evidence. The absence of willfulness is an affirmative
       defense pursuant to Rule 8.03 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(I). Father did not raise his lack of willfulness as an
affirmative defense in his answer to the petition to terminate his rights. Therefore, pursuant
to Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(I), he waived the absence of willfulness as a defense to
the ground of abandonment by failure to visit and support. TENN. R. CIV. P. 12.08
(specifying that, in general, defenses not raised by motion or answer are waived); see In re
Ashlynn H., No. M2020-00469-COA-R3-PT, 2021 WL 2181655, at *4 (Tenn. Ct. App.
May 28, 2021) (finding a father who failed to plead the absence of willfulness in his
response to the petition to terminate parental rights waived it as a defense to the ground of
abandonment by failure to support). However, Petitioners did not object to testimony
regarding willfulness at trial, and they testified regarding Father’s requests to visit the child
and their response to his request at length. Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a); see also In re Braelyn
S., 2020 WL 4200088, at *4 n.3 (citing McLemore v. Powell, 968 S.W.2d 799, 803 (Tenn.

                                             - 12 -
Ct. App. 1997) (discussing the standard for trial by implied consent)). In light of
Petitioners failure to object to this testimony, we find the issue of willfulness was tried by
implied consent.

       Father bore the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that his failure
to support was not willful. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(I); In re Brian W., No. M2020-
00172-COA-R3-PT, 2020 WL 6390132, at *3 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 30, 2020); In re
Braelyn S., No. E2020-00043-COA-R3-PT, 2020 WL 4200088, at *4 (Tenn. Ct. App. July
22, 2020). Father did not carry that burden. When considering “willfulness” in the context
of the parental termination statues, we have previously explained the concept as follows:

       Conduct is “willful” if it is the product of free will rather than coercion.
       Thus, a person acts “willfully” if he or she is a free agent, knows what he or
       she is doing, and intends to do what he or she is doing.

               Failure to visit or support a child is “willful” when a person is aware
       of his or her duty to visit or support, has the capacity to do so, makes no
       attempt to do so, and has no justifiable excuse for not doing so. Failure to
       visit or to support is not excused by another person’s conduct unless the
       conduct actually prevents the person with the obligation from performing his
       or her duty, or amounts to a significant restraint of or interference with the
       parent’s efforts to support or develop a relationship with the child.

In re Audrey S., 182 S.W.3d 838, 863-64 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005) (citations and footnotes
omitted); see also In re Adoption of Angela E., 402 S.W.3d 636, 640 (Tenn. 2013) (“A
parent cannot be said to have abandoned a child when his failure to visit or support is due
to circumstances outside his control.”). It is undisputed that Father did not visit his
daughter in the four months preceding his incarceration. His testimony was clear:

       Q. But you also admit that from April of 2018 up until this was filed in April
       of 2019, you did not visit with your daughter?
       A. I was told I couldn’t, so yes, ma’am.
       Q. You didn’t visit?
       A. Yes, ma’am.
       Q. And you didn’t ask the Court for any help with that?
       A. No.

Father asserted he was denied visitation with the child, but he testified he only asked for
and was denied visitation on one occasion after the graduation incident:

       Q. I also heard you say that you were only denied visitation one time by
       [Mother]
       A. Correct.

                                            - 13 -
       Q. So all these other times you talked about that you were denied visitation,
       it was one occasion?
       A. I was denied, yes –
       Q. Once.
       A. – one time.
       Q. You didn’t ask any time other than one time?
       A. Not me personally, no.

Mother testified that Father voluntarily stopped exercising his weekend visitation
approximately two months before the child’s kindergarten graduation. She also testified
Father would have been entitled to resume visits had he provided her with a negative drug
screen:

       Q. . . . If he had ever produced a negative drug screen, would you have
       allowed him to see the child?
       A. Yes. I would have had no choice.
       Q. And did you express that to him?
       A. Yes, multiple times.
       Q. And what was his response?
       A. I probably shouldn’t say this on the microphone. He would just curse me
       out every time, that he didn’t owe me a drug screen.

This Court has previously held that a father’s failure to visit was willful where he failed to
produce a negative drug screen in order to be permitted to visit with the child. In re Elijah
B., No. E2010-00387-COA-R3-PT, 2010 WL 5549229, at *8 (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 29,
2010). In sum, Father didn’t visit Lauren for nearly a year preceding his incarceration and
certainly not within the relevant period. In addition, he made no effort to petition the court
for assistance to reinstate his visitation, and he failed to provide a negative drug screen to
show Mother he was not abusing drugs and was therefore entitled to visitation. From our
review of the testimony and evidence in the record, we conclude there is clear and
convincing evidence to support the trial court’s termination of Father’s parental rights on
the ground of abandonment by failure to visit.

                  c. Failure to Support.

        The trial court found clear and convincing evidence that Father abandoned the child
by failing to support her. For purposes of Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(A)(iv), “failed
to support” or “failed to make reasonable payments toward the support of the child” means
“the failure, for a period of four (4) consecutive months, to provide monetary support or
the failure to provide more than token payments toward the support of the child.” Tenn.
Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(D). “‘[T]oken support’ means that the support, under the
circumstances of the individual case, is insignificant given the parent’s means[.]” Tenn.
Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(B). “A parent’s means includes ‘both income and available

                                            - 14 -
resources for the payment of debt.’” In re Josiah T., No. E2019-00043-COA-R3-PT, 2019
WL 4862197, at *7 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 2, 2019) (quoting In re Adoption of Angela E.,
402 S.W.3d 636, 641 (Tenn. 2013)).

        Regarding support, the trial court stated, “Father admitted that per Exhibit 3, during
the relevant period, that he paid $233.12 in support. He further admitted that he paid
$200.00 of that amount to stay out of jail.” Based on this fact, the trial court concluded,
“by clear and convincing evidence that the Father has willfully failed to support the child
during the relevant period and before that, and according to Exhibit 3, there were no further
support payments after August 2019.” Exhibit 3 is a child support payment record from
the Department of Human Services showing the child support Father paid from June 17,
2016 until August 9, 2019.6 Father paid $11,275.44 in child support during that time
period, comprised mostly of weekly payments of $77.30. During the four-month period
preceding his incarceration—December 9, 2018 through April 8, 2019—Father testified
that his “family” helped him make one payment of $200.00 on March 20, 2019, and he
testified that he gave the child a Christmas gift in December 2018.

       While not explicitly stating so, the trial court must have considered this $200.00
payment and Christmas gift to be “token” support. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(D).
We note that the burden was on the Petitioners to prove that Father’s payments were “token
support” within the meaning of the statute. This Court has previously clarified that
“[a]lthough related, the concept of ‘token support’ is distinct from the concept of
‘willfulness’ in failing to support. The parent bears the burden of proving that a failure to
support was not willful.” In re Josiah T., 2019 WL 4862197, at *7 n.6 (citing Tenn. Code
Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(I)). While $200.00 is certainly not the full amount of his child support
obligation during the four-month period, the payment is not necessarily “insignificant
given [his] means.” Id. Although there was not extensive testimony regarding Father’s
“means” during the relevant time period, he explained that his failure to pay the full amount
of support ordered was due to his unemployment:

        Q. Okay. And so it’s your testimony here today that you’ve consistently
        paid your support obligation?
        A. Except for a few months, yes, ma’am. I went through a rough divorce
        and lost my job.

   6
      When referencing Exhibit 3, the trial court indicated that Father discontinued child support payments
after August 2019. We note that this may not be the case. The last page of Exhibit 3 states: “Pursuant to
T.C.A.§ 24-7-121, this payment record may be used as legal evidence in a child support hearing. Financial
activity may occur after printing which will not be reflected on this document.” According to a date shown
at the top left-hand corner of the document, the payment history was printed on August 22, 2019; therefore,
no payments after that date would have been captured on the print-out. Regardless of whether Father
continued making payments after Exhibit 3 was printed, our focus is on the four-month period preceding
Father’s incarceration, not on his subsequent payment history.

                                                  - 15 -
       ...
       Q. Okay so at least in the six months to a year leading up to this petition
       being filed, the only period of time where there weren’t regular garnished
       payments being made was the period of time where you were unemployed?
       A. Yes, sir.

When Father completed his incarceration, and after his time in the drug rehabilitation
facility, he found employment at Forestwood Farms and resumed his child support
payments.

        Based on our review of the record, we conclude there is not clear and convincing
evidence to show that Father’s payment of $200.00 and his Christmas gift to Lauren was
merely token support. Father was unemployed and had no income during the four months
prior to his incarceration. Therefore, we have determined that the record does not support
the trial court’s finding that the ground of abandonment by failure to support was proven
by clear and convincing evidence, and we reverse the portion of the trial court’s order
terminating Father’s rights on that basis.

                  d. Abandonment by Engaging in Conduct that Exhibits Wanton
                     Disregard.

       As illustrated above, the third ground the trial court relied upon to terminate Father’s
parental rights, wanton disregard for the welfare of the child prior to incarceration under
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(A)(1)(iv), was not pled in the petition to terminate his rights.
Regarding procedural requirements in parental termination cases, this Court has reiterated:

       [Courts must] “strictly apply the procedural requirements in cases involving
       the termination of parental rights.” Weidman v. Chambers, No. M2007-
       02106-COA-R3-PT, 2008 WL 2331037, at *6 (Tenn. Ct. App. June 3, 2008)
       (citing In re W.B. IV, No. M2004-00999-COA-R3-PT, 2005 WL 1021618 at
       *10 (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 29, 2005) and In re M.J.B., 140 S.W.3d 643, 651
       (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004)). And a fundamental component of due process is
       proper notice of the issues to be tried in the court. In re W.B. IV, 2005 WL
       1021618, at *13. So unless a ground for termination is tried by implied
       consent, see In re Alysia S., 460 S.W.3d 536, 564 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014),
       parental rights may be terminated “only upon the statutory ground(s) alleged
       in the petition because otherwise the parent would be ‘disadvantage[d] in
       preparing a defense.’” In re Anthony R., No. M2012-01412-COA-R3-PT,
       2013 WL 500829, at *4 (Tenn. Ct. App. Feb. 8, 2013) (quoting In re W.B.
       IV, 2005 WL 1021618, at *10).

In re Boston G., No. M2019-00393-COA-R3-PT, 2020 WL 2070399, at *3 (Tenn. Ct. App.
Apr. 29, 2020). Our review of the allegations in the petition to terminate Father’s parental

                                            - 16 -
rights confirms that Father was not put on sufficient notice that his parental rights could be
terminated on the ground of abandonment by wanton disregard. See In re Johnny K.F.,
No. E2012-02700-COA-R3-PT, 2013 WL 4679269, at *7 (Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 27, 2013)
(citing In re Audrey S., 182 S.W.3d 838, 871 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005) (finding father was not
put on sufficient notice that his parental rights could be terminated on the ground of
abandonment by wanton disregard especially because the ground considers conduct that is
not confined to the four months leading to a parent’s incarceration). Neither the word
“wanton” nor the word “disregard” appear in the petition, and the pertinent statutory
definition for termination is not specifically referenced. Therefore, we find that Father
lacked proper notice from the petition that his parental rights could be terminated on the
basis of abandonment by wanton disregard.

         This does not conclude our analysis, however, because “‘a ground for termination
not included in the petition can be properly found if [it] was tried by implied consent.’” In
re Alleyanna C., No. E2014-02343-COA-R3-PT, 2015 WL 4773313, *6 (Tenn. Ct. App.
Aug. 10, 2015) (quoting In re Alysia S., 460 S.W.3d 536, 564 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014)). To
support a finding that the ground of wanton disregard was tried by implied consent, it must
be clear from the record that any “evidence presented that is relevant to the unpled ground
had no relevance to any other issue being presented to the Trial Court.” In re Johnny K.F.,
2013 WL 4679269, at *8 (citing In re S.J.M., No. M2009-01080-COA-R3-PT, 2009 WL
4039430, at *3 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 20, 2009)). Our review of the record confirms that
the ground of wanton disregard was not tried by implied consent. At the beginning of the
trial, the judge stated:

         THE COURT: . . . All right. In this case the grounds, as I understand it, are
         abandonment – let’s see. All right. And that is specifically failure to support
         and specifically failure to visit. Father is alleged to be inadequately able to
         care for the child. Persistent conditions.[7] Is that it?

         [Petitioner’s Attorney]: Yes, Your Honor. It would be fair to support other
         than token payments, I think there will be some proof that there was about
         $200 paid in the four months, and 230 and change, and also failure to visit,
         and, as the Court pointed out, failure to adequately care and supervise
         because the respondent’s condition is such that he cannot assume care and
         responsibility of the child, and that would be specifically due to a persistent
         addiction to methamphetamine resulting in repeated incarcerations, and that
         would be the second ground other than abandonment under both sub parts.

         THE COURT: All right. Okay. I got that.

  7
      Ultimately, the trial court did not make a ruling regarding the ground of persistent conditions.
                                                    - 17 -
In addition, any testimony about Father’s conduct prior to his incarceration was relevant to
the court’s best interest analysis, not only to the unpled ground of wanton disregard.
Therefore, we find that the ground of wanton disregard was not properly raised in the
pleadings and was not tried by consent of the parties. We vacate the trial court’s holding
that Father’s parental rights should be terminated on the ground of wanton disregard.

       Having found that the proof clearly and convincingly establishes one ground for
termination of Father’s parental rights, we move on to consider whether termination of
Father’s rights was in the child’s best interest. In re Valentine, 79 S.W.3d at 546 (noting
that the petitioner need only establish the existence of one statutory ground to support
termination).

        C. Best Interest.

       Next, we consider whether the trial court properly determined that termination of
Father’s parental rights was in the best interest of the child. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-
113(c)(2); In re Audrey S., 182 S.W.3d at 860. A finding that at least one ground for
termination of parental rights exists does not necessarily require that a parent’s rights be
terminated. In re Audrey S., 182 S.W.3d at 877. Because some parental misconduct is
redeemable, our termination of parental rights statutes recognize that “terminating an unfit
parent’s parental rights is not always in the child’s best interests.” Id. A court must view
the child’s best interest from the perspective of the child, not that of the parent. Id. at 878.
The facts considered in the best interest analysis must be proven by “a preponderance of
the evidence, not by clear and convincing evidence.” In re Kaliyah S., 455 S.W.3d 533,
555 (Tenn. 2015). Once a court makes the underlying factual findings, it should “consider
the combined weight of those facts to determine whether they amount to clear and
convincing evidence that termination is in the child’s best interest.” Id.

       When considering whether terminating a parent’s rights to a child is in the child’s
best interest, a trial court must consider the nine factors enumerated in Tenn. Code Ann. §
36-1-113(i).8 A trial court is not required to find that each of the enumerated factors exists
before concluding that it is in the best interest of the child to terminate a parent’s rights. In
re M.A.R., 183 S.W.3d 652, 667 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). Although in some circumstances
“the consideration of one factor may very well dictate the outcome of the analysis,” In re
Audrey S., 182 S.W.3d at 878, a court is still obligated to consider “all the factors and all
the proof.” In re Gabriella D., 531 S.W.3d 662, 682 (Tenn. 2017).

   8
      Effective April 22, 2021, the General Assembly amended Tenn. Code Ann. § 31-1-113(i) changing
and adding to the best interest factors and providing that “court[s] shall consider all relevant and child-
centered factors applicable to the particular case before the court.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(1). In
this case, we apply the version of the statute in effect in April 2019 when Mother and Step-Father filed the
petition to terminate Father’s rights.
                                                  - 18 -
        Regarding the child’s best interests, the trial court found as follows:

        The Court further finds by clear and convincing evidence that the Father
        failed to make an adjustment in his circumstances, or to adjust his conduct or
        conditions, so as to make it safe for the child to be in his home or in his
        presence on a regular basis. The Court further finds by clear and convincing
        evidence that the Father having willfully failed to make contact or have
        visitations with the child during the relevant period and before and failing to
        support the child during the relevant period, makes it not in the best interest
        of the child to maintain Father’s parental rights. The Court further finds by
        clear and convincing evidence that to expose the child to the Father and the
        physical environment that he has now and may have in the future would have
        a detrimental effect on the child’s emotional, psychological and medical
        condition which has now been stabilized by the Mother and the stepfather.
        The Court further finds by clear and convincing evidence that the child is
        thriving in her current physical environment and that to change that
        environment and change her caretakers would likely have a detrimental
        effect on the child’s emotional, psychological and medical condition. The
        Court further finds that because of the Father’s wanton disregard by being in
        and out of jail, committing crimes, repeated incarcerations, substance abuse
        and failure to provide support for the child all constitute conduct that exhibits
        a wanton disregard for the welfare of the child. The Court further finds by
        clear and convincing evidence that the Father’s poor judgments and bad acts
        has effected [sic] the child’s welfare and but for the intervention of the
        Mother, the child would have suffered irreparable harm.

        The first best interest factor considers whether a parent “has made such an
adjustment of circumstance, conduct, or conditions as to make it safe and in the child’s best
interest to be in the home of the parent.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(1). At the time
of trial, Father was incarcerated for possession of a Schedule II drug and driving under the
influence. Father admitted that he had been addicted to methamphetamine, marijuana, and
pills for approximately fifteen years. He testified that when he was released from jail, he
planned to “temporarily” live with his mother and was “hoping” his addiction issues would
not continue. Father stated that he is “tired” of abusing drugs and he is “tired of being
where [he is] at today.” We are certainly hopeful that Father can maintain his sobriety
upon his release from jail and make lasting change; however, we are constrained to a review
of the evidence of his past and cannot conclude from Father’s testimony that he has any
definite plans in place to address his longstanding substance abuse so as to make a sustained
adjustment in his circumstances. Because of his repeated drug use and uncertain post-
incarceration living situation, this factor weighs in favor of termination.9

   9
      The second best interest factor is “[w]hether the parent or guardian has failed to effect a lasting
adjustment after reasonable efforts by available social services agencies for such duration of time that
                                                 - 19 -
        The third and fourth factors focus on the parent’s relationship with the child. The
third factor considers whether the parent has maintained regular visitation or other contact
with the child, and the fourth factor considers whether a meaningful relationship has been
established between the parent and child. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(3), (4). The
evidence shows that Father voluntarily discontinued his weekend visitation with the child
eight weeks before he attended her kindergarten graduation ceremony in May 2018.
Mother asserts he appeared “high” at the child’s graduation ceremony, and Father failed to
produce a negative drug screen in order to resume his visitation. As for his relationship
with Lauren, Father testified that he did not know anything about her school, her teacher,
her activities, her grades, her friends, or her favorite color. He did not provide any evidence
that he had created and maintained a meaningful relationship with his child. As this Court
has consistently recognized, “[o]ften the lack of a meaningful relationship between a parent
and child is the most important factor in determining a child’s best interest.” In re London
B., No. M2019-00714-COA-R3-PT, 2020 WL 1867364, *12 (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 14,
2020). The evidence on the third and fourth best interest factors weighs in favor of
termination.

       The fifth factor looks at the effect a change in caregivers would have on the child’s
emotional, psychological, and medical condition. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(5). The
record shows that the child is in a safe, stable, and loving home where she is thriving. Step-
Father wishes to adopt the child. Mother testified that Lauren calls Step-Father “daddy.”
When asked about the child’s relationship with Father, Mother testified as follows:

        Q. And when is the last time that [the child] asked about her biological
        father?
        A. She actually calls him the bad person, and she has not asked about him
        in over two years - - no. Probably about two years.
        Q. Does she have any photographs of him?
        A. No.
        Q. Has she asked for any photographs of him?
        A. That’s what I was about to say. She’s never asked for any.

Mother also testified that Lauren engaged in counseling sessions for several months. Those
sessions were beneficial for the child, and the counselor indicated that she was “very stable
in the situation that she was going through, and [the counselor] didn’t need to speak to her
anymore.” In contrast, the record shows that Father has done very little to remedy his drug
abuse issues, and while we are hopeful that Father can maintain his sobriety when he is
released from jail, we are also mindful of his history of relapse. Based on the evidence, we
agree that introducing Father back into Lauren’s life would likely have a negative effect on
her emotional condition. Again, we reiterate that our best interest analysis “must be viewed

lasting adjustment does not reasonably appear possible[.]” The trial court made no findings regarding this
factor, and there was no evidence to indicate it is applicable to the present case.
                                                 - 20 -
from the child’s, rather than the parent’s perspective.” In re Audrey S., 182 S.W.3d at 878.
The fifth factor weighs in favor of termination.

      Best interest factor six is “[w]hether the parent, or guardian, or other person residing
with the parent or guardian, has shown brutality, physical, sexual, emotional or
psychological abuse, or neglect toward the child, or another child or adult in the family or
household.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(6). No evidence was presented that Father
engaged in abusive or neglectful conduct toward the child. This factor weighs against
termination of Father’s parental rights.

        The seventh best interest factor considers the parent’s home environment. See Tenn.
Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(7) (“Whether the physical environment of the parent’s . . . home
is healthy and safe, . . . or whether there is such use of alcohol, controlled substances or
controlled substance analogues as may render the parent . . . consistently unable to care for
the child.”). At the time of trial, Father was incarcerated. Regarding his plans following
incarceration, he stated that he planned to stay with his Mother “temporarily.” There was
no testimony regarding his Mother’s home or its suitability for a child. It is undisputed
that over the years Father has had difficulty maintaining his sobriety and has been
incarcerated three times and in and out of rehab facilities throughout the child’s life. This
factor is neutral.

         The eighth best interest factor considers whether the parent’s mental or emotional
status would be detrimental to the child. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(8). Father
testified that he has a “dual diagnosis, which is substance abuse/mental health disorder.”
Father did not elaborate on his mental health disorder. When asked if he had a counselor
lined up to help him address his “dual diagnosis” when he was released from jail, he
responded that he did not, but that “I probably still need to seek that.” Without more
information about Father’s mental status, we cannot say this factor weighs in favor of
termination. Factor eight is neutral.

       The ninth best interest factor considers whether the parent “has paid child support
consistent with the child support guidelines.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(9). The
record shows that Father was consistent in paying child support for Lauren other than
during his period of unemployment. This factor weighs against termination.

      After considering the entire record and weighing the best interest factors, we
conclude that the combined weight of the proof establishes by clear and convincing
evidence that termination of Father’s parental rights was in the child’s best interest.

                                        CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s termination of Father’s parental
rights on the statutory ground of failure to visit in the four months preceding Father’s

                                            - 21 -
incarceration and affirm the court’s conclusion that termination of Father’s parental rights
is in the best interest of the child. We reverse the trial court’s findings regarding the ground
of abandonment for failure to support and vacate the trial court’s findings regarding the
ground of abandonment by an incarcerated parent for wanton disregard. Costs of appeal
are assessed against the appellant, Nicholas F., for which execution may issue if necessary.

                                                      _/s/ Andy D. Bennett_______________
                                                      ANDY D. BENNETT, JUDGE

                                             - 22 -