In Re: J.T.M., a Minor Appeal of: J.M. ( 2017 )

J-S01014-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN RE: J.T.M., A MINOR : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
:
:
APPEAL OF: J.M. : No. 1448 MDA 2016
Appeal from the Decree Entered August 8, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County
Orphans’ Court at No(s): A63-124A-16
IN RE: J.R.M., A MINOR : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
:
:
APPEAL OF: J.M. : No. 1449 MDA 2016
Appeal from the Decree Entered August 8, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County
Orphans’ Court at No(s): A63-123B-16
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., DUBOW, J., and MUSMANNO, J.
MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED JANUARY 19, 2017
Appellant, J.M. (“Father”), appeals from the decrees entered in the
Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas Orphans’ Court, which terminated
Father’s parental rights to his two minor children, J.T.M. and J.R.M.
(“Children”). We affirm.
In its opinion, the trial court fully sets forth the relevant facts and
procedural history of this case. (See Trial Court Opinion, filed August 8,
2016, at 3-9.) Therefore, we will only briefly summarize them. H.H.
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(“Mother”) and Father are the natural parents of Children; they were not
married. Father was violent and controlling toward Mother and was not
involved in Children’s lives. After the couple separated in 2011, Father
entered Mother’s home without her permission, while Mother and Children
were sleeping, turned off the furnace, and left. Mother obtained a protection
from abuse order based on Father’s trespass. Father was convicted for his
actions and was placed on probation. Subsequently, Father was arrested for
his involvement in a domestic dispute with his wife and was sentenced to a
period of incarceration. During Father’s incarceration, Father did not contact
Children. Thereafter, Mother married D.H. (“Step-Father”), and together
they have cared for Children. Following Father’s release from prison, Father
filed a petition for custody of Children.
On February 25, 2016, Mother filed a petition for termination of
Father’s parental rights to Children. That same day, Step-Father filed a
petition to adopt Children. The court held a termination hearing on June 28,
2016. On August 8, 2016, the court entered a final decree terminating
Father’s parental rights to Children, awarding Mother and Step-Father
custody of Children, and allowing the adoption to proceed without further
notice to Father. On September 6, 2016, Father filed a notice of appeal and
a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.
1925(a)(2)(i) for each child. This Court sua sponte consolidated Father’s
appeals on September 15, 2016.
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Father raises the following issues for our review:
WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT EITHER ABUSED ITS
DISCRETION OR COMMITTED AN ERROR OF LAW IN
TERMINATING [FATHER]’S PARENTAL RIGHTS PURSUANT
TO 23 PA.C.S.A. [§] 2511(A)(1) BY FINDING [MOTHER
AND STEP-FATHER] MET [THEIR] BURDEN OF
PRESENTING CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT
[FATHER] HAD BY CONDUCT FOR A PERIOD OF SIX
MONTHS OR MORE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE FILING
OF THE PETITION EITHER EVIDENCED A SETTLED
PURPOSE OF RELINQUISHING HIS RIGHTS OR REFUSED
OR FAILED TO PERFORM HIS PARENTAL DUTIES?
WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT EITHER ABUSED ITS
DISCRETION OR COMMITTED AN ERROR OF LAW IN
DETERMINING THE TERMINATION OF [FATHER]’S
PARENTAL RIGHTS WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST, NEEDS
AND WELFARE OF…CHILDREN?
(Father’s Brief at 4).
Appellate review in termination of parental rights cases implicates the
following principles:
In cases involving termination of parental rights: “our
standard of review is limited to determining whether the
order of the trial court is supported by competent
evidence, and whether the trial court gave adequate
consideration to the effect of such a decree on the welfare
of the child.”
In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1115 (Pa.Super. 2010) (quoting In re I.J., 972
A.2d 5, 8 (Pa.Super. 2009)).
Absent an abuse of discretion, an error of law, or
insufficient evidentiary support for the trial court’s
decision, the decree must stand. … We must
employ a broad, comprehensive review of the record
in order to determine whether the trial court’s
decision is supported by competent evidence.
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In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 383 (Pa.Super. 2004) (en
banc), appeal denied, 581 Pa. 668, 863 A.2d 1141 (2004)
(internal citations omitted).
Furthermore, we note that the trial court, as the
finder of fact, is the sole determiner of the credibility
of witnesses and all conflicts in testimony are to be
resolved by [the] finder of fact. The burden of proof
is on the party seeking termination to establish by
clear and convincing evidence the existence of
grounds for doing so.
In re Adoption of A.C.H., 803 A.2d 224, 228 (Pa.Super.
2002) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).
The standard of clear and convincing evidence means
testimony that is so clear, direct, weighty, and convincing
as to enable the trier of fact to come to a clear conviction,
without hesitation, of the truth of the precise facts in issue.
In re J.D.W.M., 810 A.2d 688, 690 (Pa.Super. 2002). We
may uphold a termination decision if any proper basis
exists for the result reached. In re C.S., 761 A.2d 1197,
1201 (Pa.Super. 2000) (en banc). If the court’s findings
are supported by competent evidence, we must affirm the
court’s decision, even if the record could support an
opposite result. In re R.L.T.M., 860 A.2d 190, 191[-92]
(Pa.Super. 2004).
In re Z.P., supra at 1115-16 (quoting In re Adoption of K.J., 936 A.2d
1128, 1131-32 (Pa.Super. 2007), appeal denied, 597 Pa. 718, 951 A.2d
1165 (2008)).
Mother and Step-Father filed a petition to terminate Father’s parental
rights on the following grounds.
§ 2511. Grounds for involuntary termination
(a) General Rule.―The rights of a parent in regard to a
child may be terminated after a petition filed on any of the
following grounds:
(1) The parent by conduct continuing for a period of
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at least six months immediately preceding the filing
of the petition either has evidenced a settled purpose
of relinquishing parental claim to a child or has
refused or failed to perform parental duties.
* * *
(b) Other considerations.―The court in terminating
the rights of a parent shall give primary consideration to
the developmental, physical and emotional needs and
welfare of the child. The rights of a parent shall not be
terminated solely on the basis of environmental factors
such as inadequate housing, furnishings, income, clothing
and medical care if found to be beyond the control of the
parent. With respect to any petition filed pursuant to
subsection (a)(1), (6) or (8), the court shall not consider
any efforts by the parent to remedy the conditions
described therein which are first initiated subsequent to
the giving of notice of the filing of the petition.
23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), (b).
Termination under Section 2511(a)(1) involves the following:
To satisfy the requirements of [S]ection 2511(a)(1), the
moving party must produce clear and convincing evidence
of conduct, sustained for at least the six months prior to
the filing of the termination petition, which reveals a
settled intent to relinquish parental claim to a child or a
refusal or failure to perform parental duties. In addition,
Section 2511 does not require that the parent
demonstrate both a settled purpose of relinquishing
parental claim to a child and refusal or failure to
perform parental duties. Accordingly, parental rights
may be terminated pursuant to Section 2511(a)(1) if
the parent either demonstrates a settled purpose of
relinquishing parental claim to a child or fails to
perform parental duties.
Once the evidence establishes a failure to perform parental
duties or a settled purpose of relinquishing parental rights,
the court must engage in three lines of inquiry: (1) the
parent’s explanation for…[his] conduct; (2) the post-
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abandonment contact between parent and child; and (3)
consideration of the effect of termination of parental rights
on the child pursuant to Section 2511(b).
In re Z.S.W., 946 A.2d 726, 730 (Pa.Super. 2008) (internal citations
omitted). Regarding the six-month period prior to filing the termination
petition:
[T]he trial court must consider the whole history of a given
case and not mechanically apply the six-month statutory
provision. The court must examine the individual
circumstances of each case and consider all explanations
offered by the parent facing termination of…[his] parental
rights, to determine if the evidence, in light of the totality
of the circumstances, clearly warrants the involuntary
termination.
In re B.,N.M., 856 A.2d 847, 855 (Pa.Super. 2004), appeal denied, 582 Pa.
718, 872 A.2d 1200 (2005) (internal citations omitted).
With respect to an incarcerated parent, this Court has stated:
[I]ncarceration alone does not provide sufficient grounds
for the termination of parental rights. Likewise, a parent’s
incarceration does not preclude termination of parental
rights if the incarcerated parent fails to utilize given
resources and fails to take affirmative steps to support a
parent-child relationship. As such, a parent’s
responsibilities are not tolled during incarceration.
In re Adoption of K.J., supra at 1133 (internal citations omitted).
Under Section 2511(b), the court must consider whether termination
will meet the child’s needs and welfare. In re C.P., 901 A.2d 516, 520
(Pa.Super. 2006). “Intangibles such as love, comfort, security, and stability
are involved when inquiring about the needs and welfare of the child. The
court must also discern the nature and status of the parent-child bond,
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paying close attention to the effect on the child of permanently severing the
bond.” Id. Significantly:
In this context, the court must take into account whether a
bond exists between child and parent, and whether
termination would destroy an existing, necessary and
beneficial relationship. When conducting a bonding
analysis, the court is not required to use expert testimony.
Social workers and caseworkers can offer evaluations as
well. Additionally, Section 2511(b) does not require a
formal bonding evaluation.
In re Z.P., supra at 1121 (internal citations omitted).
“The statute permitting the termination of parental rights outlines
certain irreducible minimum requirements of care that parents must provide
for their children, and a parent who cannot or will not meet the requirements
within a reasonable time following intervention by the state, may properly be
considered unfit and have [his] parental rights terminated.” In re B.L.L.,
787 A.2d 1007, 1013 (Pa.Super. 2001). This Court has said:
There is no simple or easy definition of parental duties.
Parental duty is best understood in relation to the needs of
a child. A child needs love, protection, guidance, and
support. These needs, physical and emotional, cannot be
met by a merely passive interest in the development of the
child. Thus, this court has held that the parental obligation
is a positive duty which requires affirmative performance.
This affirmative duty encompasses more than a financial
obligation; it requires continuing interest in the child and a
genuine effort to maintain communication and association
with the child.
Because a child needs more than a benefactor, parental
duty requires that a parent exert [himself] to take and
maintain a place of importance in the child’s life.
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Parental duty requires that the parent act affirmatively
with good faith interest and effort, and not yield to every
problem, in order to maintain the parent-child relationship
to the best of his…ability, even in difficult circumstances.
A parent must utilize all available resources to preserve
the parental relationship, and must exercise reasonable
firmness in resisting obstacles placed in the path of
maintaining the parent-child relationship. Parental rights
are not preserved by waiting for a more suitable or
convenient time to perform one’s parental responsibilities
while others provide the child with [the child’s] physical
and emotional needs.
In re B.,N.M., supra at 855 (internal citations omitted). “[A] parent’s basic
constitutional right to the custody and rearing of…[his] child is converted,
upon the failure to fulfill…[his] parental duties, to the child’s right to have
proper parenting and fulfillment of…[his] potential in a permanent, healthy,
safe environment.” Id. at 856.
After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the
applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable William E.
Baldwin, we conclude Father’s issues merit no relief. The trial court opinion
comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the questions
presented. (See Trial Court Opinion at 1-10) (finding: (1) under Section
2511(a)(1), Father has not fulfilled his parental duties since he last saw
Children in April 2011, when they were three and four years old,
respectively; Father provided inconsistent and minimal amount of financial
support for Children in past five years; Father failed to put himself in
position to see Children, but he continues to blame others for his lack of
relationship with Children; Father has not sent Children gifts or letters, and
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he has not made telephone calls to them; Father did not make affirmative
attempts to establish, maintain, or encourage parental relationship with
Children; (2) regarding Section 2511(b),1 Children have resided with Mother
since birth; Mother has provided for Children’s financial, emotional, and
physical needs; Children do not ask about Father or think of him as their
Father; Children regard Mother’s husband, Step-Father, as their father;
Step-Father has been involved in Children’s lives and testified he does with
Children “everything a dad does,” including homework, recreational
activities, and attending doctors’ appointments; Step-Father wishes to adopt
Children; Children are doing well in school, are happy, and in good health;
no evidence shows Children’s needs and welfare are better served by
continuing Father’s parental rights; instead, it is in Children’s best interests
to terminate Father’s parental rights). The record supports the court’s
decision to terminate Father’s parental rights to Children, so we see no
reason to disturb it. See Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a), (b); In re Z.P., supra.
Accordingly, we affirm.
Decrees affirmed.
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1
Father appears to have abandoned this argument in his brief.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 1/19/2017
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Circulated 12/29/2016 03:32 PM
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION
No. A63-123B-16
a Minor
Contested Involuntary Termination
·-· -···· ·····--- •••~n~•' - ---· • • •• ···--~-~- --···-··--•~·-
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__J.r:iJ~..e_·
... -- I No. A63-124A-t6 -
:-:r~ ·M. I
a Minor I
I Contested Involuntary Termination
Counsel of Record: Julie A. Werdt, Esquire - for Petitioners
Lora J. McDonald, Esquire - for the Natural Father
Thomas J. Campion, Jr., Esquire - for the Minor Children
OPINION OF COURT
BALDWIN, P.J.
H-~· (hereinafter n,otll.lv- 1),
natural mother, and i ·l). t+ . 11 her
husband, filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of1 j. m. (hereinafter
nt,,f}'-lV 1),
the natural father ot. J.T. W\. and; J i2.. m.
The termination of parental rights is governed by statute. The party seeking
termination must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the parent's conduct
satisfies at least one of the nine statutory grounds delineated in Section 2511 (a) of the
Pennsylvania Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S.A. §2101 et seq. See also In re I.J., 972 A.2d 5,
9 (Pa. Super. 2009). If the court determines that the parent's conduct warrants
termination, it must then engage in an analysis of the best interests of the child pursuant
to Section 2511 (b) and take into consideration the developmental, physical, and
emotional needs of the child. The best interests of the child may not be separately
considered until a finding has been made that the statutory requirements for termination
have been met. In re Adoption of M.R.B., 25 A.3d 1247 (Pa. Super. 2011).
In this case, petitioners sought the involuntary termination of nvfktls parental
rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. §2511 (a)(1) and Section 2511 (b). We find that the
petitioners presented clear and convincing evidence that 'f~\...rv-'~ parental rights
· -~ould be termmatea pursuant to-Section (a)(1) and (b) which provide· as follows:
The parent by conduct continuing for a period of at least six months
immediately preceding the filing of the petition either has evidenced a
settled purpose of relinquishing parental claim to a child or has refused or
failed to perform parental duties. 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 2511 (a)(1 ).
and
The court in terminating the rights of a parent shall give primary
consideration to the developmental, physical and emotional needs and
welfare of the child .... 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 2511(b).
Parental rights may be terminated if, for a period of at least six months, a parent
either demonstrates a settled purpose of relinquishing a parental claim to a child or
.
refuses or fails to perform parental duties. In re Adoption of R.J.S., 901 A.2d 502
(Pa. Super. 2006). Section 2511 (a)(1) does not require that the parent demonstrate
both a settled purpose and a refusal or failure to perform parental duties. In re Z.S.W.,
946 A.2d 726, 730 (Pa.Super. 2008). Although it is the six month period immediately
preceding the filing of the petition to terminate the parental rights that is most critical to
the analysis, the trial court can and should "consider the whole history of a given case."
In re Interest of A.P., 692 A.2d 240, 245 (Pa.Super. 1997).
With respect to parental duties, as required by the language of Section
2511 (a)(1 ), there is no simple or easy definition and they have been defined as
"many sided." In re Adoption of M.J.H., 501 A.2d 648, 652 (Pa.Super. 1985),
appeal denied, 522 A.2d 1105 (Pa. 1987). Not only is there a duty to love, to
protect, and to financially support one's child, there is also a duty to maintain
2
communication and association with that child. In re Burns, 379 A.2d 535 (Pa.
1977). Further, being a parent is not just a passive state of mind, it is "an active
occupation, calling for a constant affirmative demonstration of parental love,
protection, and concern. In re Adoption of Baby Boy J, 512 A.2d 689,
691(Pa.Super. 1986).
Parental rights are not preserved by waiting for a more suitable or
convenient time to perform one's parental responsibilities while others provide
the child with his financial, physical, and emotional needs. In re Z.P., 994 A.2d
1108 (Pa.Super. 2010). As we have repeatedly acknowledged, a child's life
"simply cannot be put on hold in the hope that the parent will summon the ability
to handle the responsibilities of parenting." In re Z.S.W., supra. A parent who
cannot.or will not, meet the minimum requirements of care within a reasonable
time may properly be considered unfit and have his parental rights terminated. In
re Z.P., supra.
However, failure or refusal to perform parental duties should be measured
"in light of what would be expected of an individual in similar circumstances" to
the parent under examination. Lookabill v. Moreland, 485 A.2d at 1204, 1206
(Pa.Super. 1984). The totality of the circumstances surrounding the failure to
perform parental duties must be considered, including the effect of certain
barriers on the contact between the parent and the child. In re Z.P., supra. It is
well-established that the court must examine the individual circumstances of
each and every case and consider all explanations offered by the parent to
determine if the evidence in light of the totality of the circumstances warrants the
involuntary termination. In re C.M.S., 832 A.2d 457 (Pa.Super. 2003).
VV)~......- and ftvh.tv were never married and terminated their relationship in
January 2011 when the boys were about three and four years old. Wlb~r"' testified
that she ended the relationship because f ~v was "violent and controlling" and
3
often hit or choked her. [N.T., p. 4]., W\ot\~ testified that when the couple was
together as a family, i"ftt.,\-~y- was never really involved with the boys and when they
separated, ,·fivfLu,Y agreed that he should only see the boys at supervised visits at his
mother's home. Several visits were scheduled and, although: \!\,w~ dropped the
boys off at ~i'WivS mother's home, i~- testified that she was never sure that
~ spentany·signlficanramount of time with them while they wert=ffhere. ·------·
On March 23, 2011, · ~v obtained a Final Protection From Abuse (PFA)
Order against ·fi:tiu,,y because of an incident that had occurred earlier in the month.
W1,o{w.y testified that; ~ had entered her home through a basement window,
came into her bedroom, turned off the furnace and left. ~ testified that he had
only gone to the home because ~ had called him and told him that the boys were
ill. When he got to the home, the front door was locked, and because he was so
concerned about the boys, he broke into the home through the window. 'fi,efv~y
denied turning off the furnace and said that he only visited the boys' room to see that
they were okay. The PFA permanently evicted/ ·~y from the residence and
prohibited him from having any contact with ltM,O{\uv_except to arrange his supervised
visits. The PFA also required that the supervisor agree to be accountable to the court,
execute an affidavit of accountability, and file the affidavit before any visits could begin.
fl~y was required to have no drugs or alcohol for at least twelve hours prior to or
during his periods of visitation. The custody provisions in the PFA order would lapse
unless a complaint or petition to modify custody was filed within thirty days. ·~v-
was prohibited from stalking or harassing· \L . L · (I l'Wuh~s mother) and
'C.-B. and zs (`` otherchildren). Neither ``nor
~,v filed a custody action within the thirty day period.
On February 22, 2012,i ~ pied guilty to criminal trespass, as well as to
DUI high rate and possession of marijuana, for the incident that had occurred at
~& home and prompted her to seek the PFA.
4
Subsequently, on June 24, 2012, ri--iN.v was arrested and charged with
aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct against a
police officer. Those charges were filed against '5~ after the police were called to
his and his wife's home because he had "trashed" the house, and when the police
arrived, he got into a physical altercation with them. [N.T., p. 7]. ~d probation
crrr-therprior charges was revol1'\u,v and indicated that ~,y- had no partial
physical custody of the boys until he completed a psychological evaluation after being
released from prison. He was required to file a petition to modify custody upon
completion of the mental health evaluation in order to reinstate any custody rights.
·n~v- was released from prison on July 23, 2014. He served his entire
sentence and when asked about why he served the entire sentence, 1 flLfl'lY testified
that he had been offered and granted parole at one point, but before he was released
on parole, he was told that his parole was revoked because he had said "inappropriate
things" to his wife on a visit. [N.T., p. 91].
'fi./-k.v filed a petition to modify custody on December 4, 2014, about six
months after his release from prison, and a custody conciliation conference was held in
5
February 2015. At the conference, ~v submitted a personality assessment
inventory completed on September 9, 2012, while he was incarcerated and a
psychological evaluation completed in December 2014 by a private provider. The
psychological evaluation indicated that he had been diagnosed with a mood disorder,
personality disorder, and moderate to severe stressors and recommended that
~( needed lengthy psychiatric treatment with an experienced therapist.
A child support hearing was held in late fall 2015. ~ presented a note
from a physician indicating that he was suffering from back pain and he had filed for
Social Security disability benefits. His support obligation was suspended. }twfw,v
testified that she approached i-~ and asked if he would voluntarily relinquish his
parental rights to the boys. . ~Y' testified that he told her that he would never "sell"
his boys. [N.T., p. 73]. Following the child support hearing, in December 2015,
fi....fwy filed a petition to modify custody which was subsequently stayed because
~ had filed a petition to terminate his parental rights on February 25, 2016.
In the six month period just before the filing of the petition to terminate his
parental rights, ~ did pay some child support, but it is not clear exactly how
much and when. We do know that although he was court ordered to pay support
beginning in 2011, there was a two year period that he did not pay any support because
he was incarcerated and had requested that the obligation be suspended because he
would not be able to pay. After his release from prison in July 2014, his support
obligation was reinstated, but soon after that.`` stopped working due to back
pain. ~ testified that it had been "difficult" to secure employment after being in
prison and that the "few jobs" he had "became very stressful" on his back. [N.T., p. 72].
Sometime by late 2015, his obligation was suspended and the arrearages vacated
because he notified the Domestic Relations Office that he had applied for Social
Security disability benefits. ~v testified that he had not been consistent with child
6
support payments over the years and was not sure of how much and for how long he
had paid stating that "whenever I had money, that's where it went." [N.T., p. 71].
Additionally, in the six month period prior to the filing of the petition to terminate
his parental rights, we note that ·fttth.tv' did file a petition to modify custody the same
day as the petition to terminate his rights was filed, and just weeks after l'v1ofiuvhad
asked him if he would voluntarily give up his parental rights. ~fklY"' testified and
f-td-kv never disputed the fact that in that time period he never asked about the boys,
never asked to re-start his supervised visits, and never tried to contact his children. By
filing such a petition, WN.v may have demonstrated a desire to pursue his parental
rights, but such a desire seems to be more so as a property right to his boys rather than
any desire or willingness to fulfill his parental duties.
'fi4,k.i,v knew that he was required, since 2012, to submit to a psychological
evaluation and file it with the court in order to restore any of his custody rights. He
failed to submit proof of an evaluation until a January 13, 2015, custody conference
even though he had had an evaluation while incarcerated in 2012 and a second one
completed in December 2014. When asked why he waited a year after having the
second psychological evaluation to file for custody, he testified that he had "tried
filing ... for a modification for this, you know, prior to prison" which was unresponsive to
the question. [N.T., p. 79]. A series of questions was then asked of f-o.ftl{V ·, but after
many unresponsive and sketchy answers, he finally replied that he did not "have an
answer" as to why he waited over a year to file his petition. [N.T., p. 79].
More importantly, and despite the professional's recommendation that 'fiuftu.v
needed lengthy "intensive therapy" due to his diagnosis, f~v testified that such a
recommendation was just the professional's "opinion" and that he disagreed with the
recommended treatment because he did not "have time for that." [N.T., p. 69]. Further,
he testified that he could not afford such treatment because he was "geared up for
knowing that [he] had support to pay" and was "attempting to secure employment."
7
[N.T., p. 70]. f/A..fklv claimed that if he needed psychotherapy or mental health
treatment it was due to his incarceration and "having been withheld from [his] sons'
lives." [N.T., p. 75]. He stated that he needed "as much treatment as their mother"
needed. [N.T., p. 76].
'fith~v testified that the batterers' program in prison did help him because it
was very informative as to identifying the "the other party's actions" and that he learned
that it "takes two people to have an argument." [N.T., p. 77]. Despite his history of
violence against \iYl~f , his home, a police officer, and his wife (for which there are
pending charges), ·~h« has refused to acknowledge his tendency for such
behavior, and continues to blame others. His violent tendencies have caused him to
spend a significant time in prison. ·fM\.uv tried to explain his failure to make contact
with his sons while he was incarcerated by testifying that it was a "little difficult" to
contact anyone from prison because he was not allowed to phone anyone without
having them pre-approved. [N.T., p. 63]. He stated that he had no current phone
number for Vv\,bftLlv , was prevented from contact with her or his boys because of the
PFA, and it was "not an option" for him to write to them or send them cards. [N.T., p.
64). ~ offered no explanation as to why it was no option to send a note nor did
he describe any concrete steps he took to have a relationship with them.
~ testified that he did not want his rights terminated and that he was now
willing to do whatever he needed to do to be in his sons' lives. A parent cannot protect
his parental rights by merely stating that he does not wish to have his rights terminated .
In re C.M.S., supra. at 464. f~., stated that he had been "shut out at every length,
every attempt" that he made to be reinstated in their life. [N.T., p. 74]. He also testified
that he felt that he had been "stonewalled", but did not identify who in particular was
responsible for thwarting his attempts or how exactly he had been prevented from
having a relationship with his boys. [N.T., p. 74}. ~Y did admit that she had
moved and that about five years after she and f~ separated she got a different
8
phone number; but absent from the evidence is testimony that ·F~v ever tried to
telephone her, or that he had attempted to contact her at the home, but she was not
there. ·fi~l-lv'°" reported that he had no address for. Vno+t~v , but all of his documents
were successfully served upon her during the time period from January 2011 through
today. We find that there was no evidence to support his argument that he was
prevented from establishing a relationship with JS·lYl· and J. it.rn .
·"ftt:tkvr has done nothing to fulfill any of his parental duties since he last saw
the boys in April 2011. He has provided only a minimal amount of inconsistent financial
support in the past five years. f,vf\\lv'" has failed to put himself in a position to be able
to see his children and stubbornly clings to his assertion that he is not to blame for the
lack of a relationship. He has sent no gifts or letters and made no telephone calls. He
took no affirmative actions to establish, maintain, or encourage. a parental relationship
with the boys.
In deciding the sensitive question of the involuntary termination of parental rights,
we are mindful of the irreversible nature and the serious emotional impact which
necessarily follow such an action. In re Adoption of Ostrowski, 471 A.2d 541
(Pa.Super. 1984). It is well-established that the court must engage in a bifurcated
process in terminating parental rights. In re D.W., 856 A.2d 1231 (Pa.Super. 2004).
Initially, the court must focus on the conduct of the parent, and only after determining
that the parent's conduct warrants the termination of parental rights does the court
engage in the second part of the analysis, that is, determining the needs and welfare of
the child under the standard of the best interests of the child. In re C.L.G., 956 A.2d
999 (Pa.Super. 2008). A major aspect of the needs and welfare analysis concerns the
"nature and status of the emotional bond between parent and child." In re Adoption of
R.J.S., supra. at 509 (citation omitted).
J .i. \,\,\. and .JT.Vh, have resided with .·MDtt'lv since their birth and she has
provided for their financial, emotional and physical needs. They boys have not seen
9
(;'o..,riw since April 2011 when they were about three and four years old. They have
had no contact whatsoever since that time. Because they were so young when
(~ last saw them, they do not ask about him or think of him as their father, and
regard Moi,tv.rr_, husband, ·]>. K. 1, as a father. ]),.r(, has been
involved in the boys' lives for a significant amount of time and testified that he does
"everything a dad does," including homework, baseball, fishing, football, and hunting.
[N.T., p. 4 7]. He also attends their medical and dental visits. :f(Z.1"' · and -q;-r.i · are in
good health and are happy. They are doing well in school. D.1--l. is
interested in adopting the boys.
We conclude that there is no evidence showing that the minor children's needs
and welfare are better served by continuing `` parental rights. Instead,
the termination of the parental rights of the natural father, ·b~ ', is in the best
interest, needs, and welfare of the minor children, ~ ?2./l/1 - and
~--r..1\/\.
Accordingly, we enter the following:
10
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION
In Re: No. A63-1238-16
.::r· -(l._ • Al\ . -
a Minor
Contested Involuntary Termination
In Re: No. A63-124A-16
~"JV\'
a Minor
Contested Involuntary Termination
Counsel of Record: Julie A. Werdt, Esquire - for Petitioners
Lora J. McDonald, Esquire -for the Natural Father
Thomas J. Campion, Jr., Esquire -for the Minor Children
FINAL DECREE
BALDWIN, P.J.
AND NOW, this ath day of August, 2016, at 3:00 p.m., upon consideration of the
within Petition and after hearing held thereon, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND
DECREED that all parental rights of ::r. M,i _) . as natural father, in and to
~ (!.. .J'J\. ', a male minor, are TERMINATED.
It is further ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that all parental rights of
·, as natural father, in and to ~ T, ,v...~ ) . a male minor, are
TERMINATED.
Custody of the said -~ (2.. f'I\. and er: "i-:- M. is
hereby awarded to I H . \--:\. - and .P. H· .J her husband, and the adoption
of the said children shall proceed without further notice to the natural parent.
It is also directed that all papers in this case and the testimony shall be withheld
from public inspection and no person shall be allowed access thereto except upon
Order of Court granted upon cause shown.
BY THE COURT,
2