In the Int. of: C.G.C., Appeal of: K.H. ( 2023 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT OP 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: C.G.C., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA
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APPEAL OF: K.H., MOTHER :
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: No. 1 EDA 2023
Appeal from the Decree Entered November 16, 2022
In the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County Orphans' Court at
No(s): 36 OCA 2021
BEFORE: OLSON, J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and KING, J.
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED JUNE 07, 2023
K.H. (“Mother”) appeals from the November 16, 2022 decree, in the
Monroe County Court of Common Pleas, granting the petition of P.C. (“Father”)
and A.C. (“Stepmother”), involuntarily terminating her parental rights to her
twelve-year-old daughter, C.C. (“Child”), pursuant to the Adoption Act, 23
Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), (2), and (b). After careful review, we affirm.
In the opinion accompanying the decree, the orphans’ court set forth 56
factual findings, which the evidence supports. See Orphans’ Court Opinion,
11/16/2022, at 2-9. Therefore, we adopt those findings herein. Child was
born in February 2011. See N.T., 8/18/2022, at 5. For approximately three
years thereafter, Father and Mother lived together with Child. Upon
separation, they shared physical and legal custody of Child. Id. at 7.
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Thereafter, numerous arrests led to Mother’s incarceration. In April
2013, she was arrested and charged with driving while under the influence
(“DUI”) and endangering the welfare of children because Child was present at
the time of the incident. See N.T., 8/18/2022, at 7-8; Father’s Exhibit A.
Approximately one year later, Mother was arrested for retail theft, and then
again in November 2014 for recklessly endangering another person (“REAP”),
disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness.1 Id. Ultimately, she was
incarcerated in November 2014, and Father obtained sole legal and physical
custody of Child. See N.T., 8/18/2022, at 7-8.
Mother was released around September 2016. See N.T., 8/18/2022, at
8; N.T., 10/21/2022, at 79. Once released, Mother filed a petition to modify
custody and by interim order dated August 29, 2016, she was awarded
supervised partial physical custody once a week for a period not less than two
hours. See Custody Order, 8/29/2016. After various conciliation conferences
and orders, the court conducted an evidentiary hearing on January 19, 2018.
The court awarded Mother, inter alia, shared legal custody and partial physical
custody of Child on the weekends. See Custody Order, 1/19/2018.
This arrangement was short-lived as Mother was arrested in July 2018
for retail theft, and subsequently missed a conciliation conference. See
Father’s Exhibit A. On September 4, 2018, the court adopted the interim order
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1 Mother was charged with REAP because, again, Child was present in the
vehicle when Mother was arrested. See Father’s Exhibit A.
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of August 27, 2018, awarding Father sole legal and physical custody.
Thereafter, Mother did not attempt to alter custody until she filed a petition to
modify on September 24, 2021, approximately three months after Father and
Stepmother filed their petition to involuntarily terminate her parental rights to
Child.2 See N.T., 8/18/2022, at 12, 34, 80.
Following the August 2018 interim custody order, Mother was arrested
two more times. In January 2019, Mother was arrested and charged with
theft by unlawful taking, and in June 2020, she was charged with retail theft.
See N.T., 8/18/2022, at 25-26; N.T., 10/21/2022, at 78. Following her June
2020 arrest, Mother began an outpatient methadone program at Miners
Medical Center.3 See Mother’s Exhibit 8.
On June 22, 2021, Father and Stepmother filed a petition for the
involuntary termination of Mother’s parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.
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2Father and Stepmother have lived together since 2015, married in 2017, and
Stepmother testified that she has performed parental duties for Child since
2014. N.T., 8/18/2022, at 4-5, 94.
3 Mother’s methadone program records indicate that during the six months
preceding Father’s and Stepmother’s involuntary termination petition, Mother
tested positive for a variety of substances including cocaine and fentanyl.
Mother’s Exhibit 8.
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§ 2511(a)(1) and (b) (“TPR petition”) and a petition for adoption.4, 5 The
orphans’ court conducted hearings on August 18, 2022, and October 21, 2022.
Mother was represented by counsel and testified on her own behalf. She also
presented the testimony of P.B., maternal grandfather, and E.P., maternal
grandmother’s paramour.6 Father and Stepmother testified on their own
behalf, and additionally presented the testimony of Sara J. Cornell. Psy.D.,
Child’s psychologist. Child, who was eleven years old at the time, was
represented by legal counsel.7 The court conducted an in camera interview of
Child in the presence of all counsel wherein she testified that she desires to
be adopted by Stepmother. See N.T., 8/18/2022, at 100.
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4 Father and Stepmother filed an amended petition on December 21, 2021
that included 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2) as an additional ground for the
termination of Mother’s parental rights.
5 At the request of the parties, the termination hearing was continued various
times. See Orphans’ Court Opinion, 11/16/2022, at 1. In the interim, the
parties participated in a custody conciliation on December 20, 2021, at which
time, by interim order, Father retained sole legal and physical custody of Child.
See Custody Order, 12/20/2021. On February 24, 2022, the interim order
was adopted by the court. See Order, 2/24/2022.
6B.S. (“maternal grandmother”), with permission from Father, visited with
Child until just before she passed away in May 2021.
7 Although the transcripts of testimony list Victoria Strunk, Esquire, as the
guardian ad litem for Child, in its order appointing Attorney Strunk, the trial
court specified that she is “legal counsel.” At the conclusion of the hearing on
October 21, 2022, Attorney Strunk confirmed that Child’s position had not
changed; Child does not want to see or speak with Mother. N.T., 10/21/2022,
at 131. Attorney Strunk did not file a brief in response to Mother’s appeal.
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On November 16, 2022, the orphans’ court issued a decree involuntarily
terminating Mother’s parental rights, as well as a contemporaneous opinion.
Thereafter, on December 15, 2022, Mother, through appointed counsel, filed
a timely notice of appeal, along with a concise statement of errors complained
of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b). On December 16,
2022, the orphans’ court filed a statement pursuant to Rule 1925(a), referring
this Court to its memorandum opinion accompanying the decree.
On appeal, Mother presents the following issue for review:
1. Whether the court erred in finding that petitioner proved the
elements of 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), [(2), and (b)] by clear
and convincing evidence?
Mother’s Brief at 4 (unnecessary capitalization and suggested answer
omitted).
We review involuntary termination orders for an abuse of discretion
which our Supreme Court has explained “is limited to a determination of
whether the decree of the termination court is supported by competent
evidence.” In re Adoption of C.M., 255 A.3d 343, 358 (Pa. 2021). When
applying this standard, appellate courts must accept the trial court’s findings
of fact and credibility determinations if they are supported by the record.
Interest of S.K.L.R., 256 A.3d 1108, 1123 (Pa. 2021). “Where the trial
court’s factual findings are supported by the evidence, an appellate court may
not disturb the trial court’s ruling unless it has discerned an error of law or
abuse of discretion.” In re Adoption of L.A.K, 265 A.3d 580, 591 (Pa. 2021).
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An appellate court may reverse for an abuse of discretion “only upon
demonstration of manifest unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or
ill-will.” Id.Termination of parental rights is governed by Section 2511 of the
Adoption Act. If the trial court determines the petitioner established grounds
for termination under subsection 2511(a) by clear and convincing evidence,
then the court must assess the petition under subsection 2511(b), which
focuses on the child’s needs and welfare. In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa.
2013).
In this case, the orphans’ court terminated Mother’s parental rights
pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), (2), and (b).8 We have long held that,
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8 Section 2511(a)(2) is not applicable despite the orphans’ court’s discussion
of the subsection in its memorandum accompanying the termination decree.
Significantly, to terminate parental rights pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2), the
following three elements must be met: (1) repeated and continued incapacity,
abuse, neglect or refusal; (2) such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal has
caused the child to be without essential parental care, control or subsistence
necessary for his physical or mental well-being; and (3) the causes of the
incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be remedied. In re
Adoption of M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1266, 1272 (Pa. Super. 2003).
No evidence suggests that Child has been without essential parental care,
control, or subsistence while in the care of Father and Stepmother. See In
re Adoption of L.A.K, 265 A.3d at 600 (finding termination of the father’s
parental rights under Section 2511(a)(2) was not appropriate where no
evidence was presented that children, while in the care of the mother and
stepfather, were without essential parental care, control, or subsistence).
Accordingly, the record does not support termination of Mother’s parental
rights pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2).
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in order to affirm a decree terminating parental rights, we need only agree
with the trial court as to any one subsection of Section 2511(a), as well as
Section 2511(b). See In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super. 2004).
As such, we analyze the court’s termination decree pursuant to Section
2511(a)(1) and (b), which provide as follows:
(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 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).
As we have explained, this Court reviews a sufficiency challenge to a
Section 2511(a)(1) termination in the following manner:
To satisfy the requirements of Section 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
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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 or her conduct; (2) the
post-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) (citations omitted).
This Court has instructed, “[I]t is the six months immediately preceding
the filing of the petition that is most critical to our analysis. However, the trial
court must consider the whole history of a given case and not mechanically
apply the six-month statutory provisions, but instead consider the individual
circumstances of each case.” In re D.J.S., 737 A.2d 283, 286 (Pa. Super.
1999) (citations omitted). This requires the court to “examine the individual
circumstances of each case and consider all explanations offered by the parent
facing termination of his or her 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) (citation
omitted).
Further,
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[T]o be legally significant, the [post-abandonment] contact must
be steady and consistent over a period of time, contribute to the
psychological health of the child, and must demonstrate a serious
intent on the part of the parent to recultivate a parent-child
relationship and must also demonstrate a willingness and capacity
to undertake the parental role. The parent wishing to reestablish
his parental responsibilities bears the burden of proof on this
question.
In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1119 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citation omitted); see
also In re Adoption of C.L.G., 956 A.2d 999, 1006 (Pa. Super 2008) (en
banc).
Regarding the definition of “parental duties,” this Court has explained:
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.
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 or her
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
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others provide the child with . . . her physical and emotional
needs.
In re B., N.M., 856 A.2d at 855 (citations omitted).
Mother argues that Father did not present clear and convincing evidence
of Section 2511(a)(1) and (b). Regarding Section 2511(a)(1), Mother baldly
asserts that Father prevented Mother from seeing Child. Mother’s Brief at 15;
(citing In re J.G.J., Jr., 532 A.2d 1218 (Pa. Super. 1987) (affirming the trial
court’s decree denying the father’s petition to involuntarily terminate the
mother’s parental rights where father expressly prohibited the mother from
physically visiting with the child)). Mother further contends that Child believes
Father would be angry if she told Father she wanted to see her. See Mother’s
Brief at 15.
Mother’s argument is without merit. Primarily, our review did not
reveal, and Mother has not cited to, any evidence indicating that Father
prevented Mother from seeing or contacting Child. It is true that Father
blocked Mother’s cell phone number after he received harassing
communications from her, including text messages in the early hours of the
morning. See N.T., 8/18/2022, at 50-51, 65. While Father blocked Mother’s
cell phone number after he received harassing communications from her, the
record establishes that Mother had many ways of communicating with him.
Id. at 50-51, 75-76. Father further testified on cross-examination that
whether Child wants to talk to Mother is up to her:
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Q: [] Okay. If [Child] wanted to contact [Mother] or [Mother]
wanted to call and talk to [Child], would you allow it?
A: Would I allow it? It’s not my business to disallow it or not allow
it. It’s her mother. So it’s entirely up to [Child], what [Child]
wants to do.
Id. at 55. Child also testified that Father has asked her about contacting
Mother. Child explained:
Q: Did you ever ask for [Mother’s telephone number], from
[Father]?
A: No. But he’s asked me like, do you want to call her? Like, I
can give you the phone number. And I’m like no I don’t want it .
...
N.T., 8/18/2022, at 116. Accordingly, Mother’s argument that Father
prevented Mother from seeing Child is without merit.
Mother also argues that she was focused on maintaining her sobriety
before filing a petition to modify custody. Id. at 17 (citing L.A.K., 265 A.3d
at 580) (reinstating the trial court’s decree denying the petition to
involuntarily terminate the father’s parental rights where the father distanced
himself from the children until he could achieve sobriety)). Mother contends
that she has been in treatment for years. See Mother’s Brief at 17. Mother
argues that the orphans’ court should have considered the barrier of Mother’s
addiction and her desire to be sober and stable prior to reestablishing her
parental duties. Id. She also argues that she maintained contact with Child
via Facetime, telephone conversations, and by sending cards and gifts.
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Mother concludes that “[s]he did everything she could short of filing for a
modification but provided a reasonable explanation for not doing so.” Id.
In its opinion accompanying the decree, the orphans’ court determined
that Mother failed to perform parental duties for a period of at least six months
prior to the filing of Father’s and Stepmother’s petition and, “[i]n fact, Mother
had periods in which she failed to perform parental duties dating back to 2013
when she was arrested and eventually incarcerated for DUI and endangering
the welfare of [Child].” Trial Court Opinion, 11/16/2022, at 13. The court
emphasized that “Mother’s explanation of why she did not file for custody
between 2018 and September 2021, which was after the [involuntary
termination] petition was filed, was unconvincing.” Id. at 15.
The court continued, as follows:
In a rather candid moment, Mother also testified that her drug use
led to a period of time she was unavailable as a parent.
Unfortunately, this occurred from her 2013 arrest through
September 2016, and again at some point in 2018 nearly through
to the filing of the TPR petition in June 2021. Mother spent time
in jail in 2018 for an arrest after a relapse. She admitted she
slipped again in her use when charged with retail theft in June
2020 and October 2020. While Mother’s drug use may explain her
being unavailable at times, it caused long absences from [Child’s]
life. These absences continued even when Mother was supposedly
sober from October 2020 through June 2021 when the TPR
petition was filed. The explanation provides insight to Mother’s
issues with drug addiction and the consequences thereof. But, it
is an insufficient excuse for the lengthy period of time that Mother
failed to be available as a parent to [Child].
Mother’s other explanation for her absence was that she did not
want to infringe upon maternal grandmother’s visits with [Child].
Mother believed that if she filed for custody after 2018, maternal
grandmother would somehow lose her ample visitation that Father
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allowed with [Child]. That visitation was not court-ordered. But,
somehow Mother believes Father would have stopped those visits,
apparently out of spite for Mother. We saw no evidence that would
have occurred. Mother also offered the alternative explanation
that if she filed for custody, she would have upset maternal
grandmother. Mother claims she had considered filing for custody
about the time maternal grandmother died in May 2021, which is
why she ultimately waited until September 2021. We find
Mother’s explanation lacking in credibility, and is simply not
supported by any other evidence. It appears more likely that
Mother simply relied on maternal grandmother to provide Mother
with phone/FaceTime contact while she battled her drug addiction,
and only filed for custody when she realized Father and
Stepmother were moving ahead with TPR and adoption.
Id. at 16-17. The court concluded that “Mother’s contacts and efforts between
the September 2018 custody order awarding sole legal and physical custody
to Father and September 2021, when Mother filed for custody (after the TPR
petition was filed) were minimal to non-existent. As a result, the petitioners
[] presented clear and convincing evidence of grounds for termination of
Mother’s parental rights under Section 2511(a)(1).” Id. at 17.
We discern no abuse of discretion. Father testified that from September
2018 to September 2021, Mother failed to perform any parental duties. Id.
at 16-17. He stated that Mother sent some letters, but “there were a few that
. . . were inappropriate for [Child] to read[,]” including a story about “wicked
stepparents.” Id. at 17; see also Father’s Exhibit I. He also stated that
Mother sent gifts and Child “received the gifts and then said donate them or
throw them away.” N.T., 8/18/2022, at 54. Father further testified that
Mother only requested information on Child’s medical history in 2016, and last
attended a doctor’s appointment for Child in 2012 or 2013. Id. at 66, 88-89.
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He also asserted that Mother never attended any of Child’s school functions
(e.g., parent teacher conferences, musical performances, etc.). Id. at 91.
Mother testified on direct examination that the only contact she had with
Child from when Father was awarded sole legal and physical custody in
September 2018, to when Father and Stepmother filed the termination
petition in June 2021, was through maternal grandmother. She testified:
Q: Okay. So starting in 2018, what efforts did you make to
maintain a relationship with [Child]?
A: Well, every single time my mom would get to visit her, which
would at least, I think, be monthly, she would, you know say,
[Child’s] in the car, call. And then [Child] would just answer. So
anytime my mother had her, we talked probably two to three
times a day.
N.T., 10/21/2022, at 85-86. Mother also confirmed that she only received
updates about Child through maternal grandmother and last had contact with
Child before maternal grandmother passed away in May 2021. Id. at 86-87,
128. Moreover, Mother failed to file a petition to modify custody until three
months after Father and Stepmother filed their petition to involuntarily
terminate Mother’s parental rights.
Child confirmed during the in camera interview that she received gifts
and cards from Mother, but stated that she “didn’t really need cards. So I just
[] threw them away.” N.T., 8/18/2022, at 112. Child also testified that the
gifts were not age appropriate: “[] the toys that she gives me are [] for
three[-]year[-]olds.” Id. Child also testified regarding her conversations with
Mother via FaceTime, as follows:
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Q: When you said that you sometimes had to answer the phone if
[Mother] was calling?
A: Um-hmm.
Q: What would [maternal grandmother] say or do that made you
answer the phone?
A: She’d be like come on it’s [Mother], answer it. Just answer it.
Answer it and I didn’t -- and I just didn’t want her to start yelling
because I am not a fan [of] being yelled at.
Q: [] So [maternal grandmother] would, if . . . you didn’t answer
the phone and talk to [Mother] for a minute or two, [maternal
grandmother] would get upset?
A: Probably. I just -- never actually saw what she would do. I
would just answer the phone.
...
Q: Did you want to talk to [Mother]?
A: No. I never did.
Id. at 106-107.
Mother provided two explanations for her failure to perform parental
duties: (1) maintaining her sobriety, and (2) to appease the maternal
grandmother who was concerned that Father would prevent her from seeing
Child if Mother filed a petition to modify custody. Mother argues that her
situation is analogous to the parent in L.A.K., supra. In that case, the trial
court denied the petition to terminate and recognized that a parent’s addiction
to alcohol was a barrier to reuniting with his children. Id. at 583. The trial
court determined that the parent stayed away from his children to achieve
sobriety which was in the children’s best interest, and had filed a petition to
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modify custody prior to the filing of the petition to involuntarily terminate his
parental rights. Id. at 584, 586. This Court reversed and concluded that the
trial court abused its discretion in denying the termination petition. Id. at
588-589. Thereafter, our Supreme Court reversed this Court’s determination
and remanded with instructions to reinstate the order of the trial court. Id.
at 601. In so doing, the L.A.K. Court determined that “alcohol addiction can
present a barrier to fulfilling parental obligations and as such, the
determination of whether efforts to overcome the barrier are sufficient to
overcome a finding of parental abandonment under Section 2511(a)(1) of the
Adoption Act is a fact-specific determination that rests within the discretion of
the trial court.” Id. at 583.
In the instant matter, the orphans’ court determined that “Mother’s
issues with drug addiction and the consequences thereof” are “an insufficient
excuse for the lengthy period of time that Mother failed to be available as a
parent to [Child].” Orphans’ Court Opinion, 11/16/2022, at 16. Additionally,
contrary to the father in L.A.K. who filed a petition to modify custody prior to
the termination petition, Mother did not file her petition until three months
after the instant petition was filed.
Moreover, unlike the father in L.A.K., on cross-examination, Mother
proffered a second reason for her failure to perform her parental duties, as
follows.
Q: So your attorney was in contact with you and then, correct me
if I’m wrong, your testimony was that from that point, 2018, when
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you knew you didn’t have any more custody rights under the
order, you didn’t file because you were working on --
A: I was working on like my sobriety and myself, and I just knew
I couldn’t be the best like me that I could be.
Q: Okay. So in your opinion does a parent have to have every box
checked and have everything perfect in order to be of value to
their child?
A: No. Honestly it was really a lot of my mom begging me not to,
like begging me to wait, wait for more time, get more time under
your belt, ‘cause she just thought once I filed papers that she
wasn’t gonna be able to see [Child].
Q: Did your mom ever file anything to assert grandparents’ rights
with you?
A: No. She wanted to and she said she was afraid if she lost, then
[Father] would never let her see [Child]. So she just said, I’ll just
take what I can get.
Q: So she had no rights under a court order to see [Child]?
A: No, ma’am.
Q: And she was seeing her regularly?
A: Yes, ma’am.
Q: And that was with [Father’s] permission?
A: Yes
...
Q: Was there any other reason than your mother telling you not
to file, that you did not come to the court and file for some rights
to see your daughter?
A: No. She just kept saying, you’re -- you’re going to ruin it, I’m
not gonna be able to see her, I’m not gonna be able to see her,
[Father] -- [Father] won’t let me see her any more if you do this,
just wait a little longer, wait a little longer.
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N.T., 10/21/2022, at 120-124. Aside from this testimony, the record contains
no corroborating evidence that Father would have stopped visits between
Child and maternal grandmother and the orphans’ court did not find Mother’s
explanation credible. See Orphan’s Court Opinion, 11/16/2022, at 16.
Based upon our review of the foregoing evidence, we find that the
orphans’ court did not abuse its discretion. It is undisputed that Mother failed
to perform her parental duties to Child well beyond the crucial six-month
period. See In re D.J.S., 737 A.2d at 286. Moreover, Mother did not file a
petition to modify the existing custody order until three months after Father
and Stepmother filed their petition to involuntarily terminate her parental
rights to Child. By her own admission, Mother chose to wait to file for custody
of Child at the behest of maternal grandmother and relied upon her for what
minimal contact she had with Child. See In re B., N.M., 856 A.2d at 855(finding that “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 . . . her physical and emotional needs”); see also In
re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1119 (Pa. Super. 2010) (finding post-abandonment
contact must be steady, consistent, and contribute to the psychological health
of the child). Accordingly, as we discern no error of law or abuse of discretion,
we will not disturb the orphans’ court’s finding of grounds for termination
pursuant to Section 2511(a)(1).
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We next must determine whether termination was proper under Section
2511(b). Our Supreme Court has outlined this inquiry as follows:
[I]f the grounds for termination under subsection (a) are met, a
court “shall give primary consideration to the developmental,
physical and emotional needs and welfare of the child.” 23 Pa.C.S.
§ 2511(b). The emotional needs and welfare of the child have
been properly interpreted to include “[i]ntangibles such as love,
comfort, security, and stability.” In re K.M., 53 A.3d 781, 791
(Pa. Super. 2012). In In re E.M., [620 A.2d 481, 485 (Pa. 1993)],
this Court held that the determination of the child’s “needs and
welfare” requires consideration of the emotional bonds between
the parent and child. The “utmost attention” should be paid to
discerning the effect on the child of permanently severing the
parental bond. In re K.M., 53 A.3d at 791. However, as
discussed below, evaluation of a child’s bonds is not always an
easy task.
In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d at 267. “In cases where there is no evidence of any
bond between the parent and child, it is reasonable to infer that no bond
exists. The extent of any bond analysis, therefore, necessarily depends on
the circumstances of the particular case.” In re K.Z.S., 946 A.2d 753, 762-
63 (Pa. Super. 2008) (citation omitted).
Moreover:
While a parent’s emotional bond with his or her child is a major
aspect of the [Section] 2511(b) best-interest analysis, it is
nonetheless only one of many factors to be considered by the
court when determining what is in the best interest of the child.
[I]n addition to a bond examination, the trial court can
equally emphasize the safety needs of the child, and
should also consider the intangibles, such as the love,
comfort, security, and stability the child might have
with the foster parent. . . .
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In re Adoption of C.D.R., 111 A.3d 1212, 1219 (Pa. Super. 2015) (quoting
In re N.A.M., 33 A.3d 95, 103 (Pa. Super. 2011)) (quotation marks and
citations omitted).
Mother contends that the testimony from Child’s psychologist, Dr.
Cornell, was inconsistent and biased against her. Mother’s Brief at 24. She
contends that Dr. Cornell was not aware that “[C]hild thought [F]ather would
be upset if she told him she wanted to see [M]other.” Id. Mother concludes
that an unbiased party should review whether severing Child’s bond with her
is in her best interest pursuant to Section 2511(b). Id.In determining that Father provided clear and convincing evidence
pursuant to Section 2511(b), the orphans’ court stated the following in its
opinion accompanying the decree:
In this case, [Child] is bonded to Stepmother and wants to be
adopted by her. Stepmother wants to adopt [Child]. Stepmother
has been in [Child’s] life for over five years. [Child] is now
[eleven], so she has known Stepmother for half of her life. [Child]
has expressed clearly to the court, to [Father], and to Dr. Cornell,
that she does not want to see Mother anymore. Dr. Cornell
recommends that [Child] not visit or reunite with [] Mother for her
emotional, physical and mental well-being. [Child] has no bond
with Mother. It is unlikely this will change. Father has been
supportive of [Child’s] feelings of what she wishes to have happen.
[Child] is old enough and aware enough of things to express her
own feelings and opinions on this subject.
Mother believes [Child] is lying, or at least being coerced into
saying that she wants to be adopted. Mother states that what
[Child] is saying now is not what she said to Mother in the past.
Mother believes Dr. Cornell is lying and would say whatever she
is paid for by Father. Mother believes Father is lying. Mother said
she is the only one not lying in this matter. We do not agree with
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Mother’s perception of this issue as there is no evidence to support
it.
Trial Court Opinion, 11/16/2022, at 19. The trial court also found Child,
Father, Stepmother, and Dr. Cornell credible regarding Child’s desire to be
adopted by Stepmother and no longer see or speak to Mother. Id. at 20.
The orphans’ court’s determinations are supported by the record.
Primarily, as related supra, appellate courts must accept the trial court’s
findings of fact and credibility determinations if they are supported by the
record. Interest of S.K.L.R., 256 A.3d at 1123. The orphans’ court
determined that Child “has no bond with Mother.” Orphans’ Court Opinion,
11/16/2022, at 19. During the in camera interview, on inquiry by Father’s
attorney, Child stated as follows regarding whether she wants to see Mother
again.
Q: So you don’t think there’s anything in the whole wide world
[Mother] could do that would make it, where you would want to
see her again?
A: Nothing.
Q: Absolutely nothing?
A: No.
Q: You thought about this?
A: Um-hmm.
N.T., 8/18/2022, at 109. Additionally, as stated above, although Child spoke
with Mother on the telephone or via Facetime during times with maternal
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grandmother, she only acquiesced because she did not want maternal
grandmother to yell at her. Id. at 106-17.
Dr. Cornell, Child’s psychologist since 2017, testified that Child often
stated that she does not want to see Mother. N.T., 10/21/2022, at 13, 19.
Dr. Cornell also performed an evaluation of Mother, after Father and
Stepmother filed their petition to involuntarily terminate her parental rights.
Id. at 19. In her report following the evaluation, Dr. Cornell concluded that
it was not healthy for Child to have a relationship with Mother and that there
is no bond between them. Id. at 22; see also Father’s Exhibit L. Contrary
to Mother’s bald assertion, this Court found no evidence in the record to
support her assertion that Dr. Cornell was biased against Mother.
Stepmother and Child, on the other hand, have a parent-child bond. As
related supra, Stepmother has performed parental duties for Child since
2014. N.T., 8/18/2022, at 94. Stepmother also testified that she loves Child,
and that she believes Child loves her. Id. at 95. Child confirmed that she
wants to be adopted by Stepmother and that they have a good relationship.
Id at 100-101. Therefore, we discern no error of law or abuse of discretion
in the court’s finding that termination of Mother’s parental rights would best
serve Child’s needs and welfare pursuant to Section 2511(b).
Based on the foregoing, we affirm the decree involuntarily terminating
Mother’s parental rights.
Decree affirmed.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 6/7/2023
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