Lead Opinion
When a court of this State, in an initial custody order, awards custody of a child to custodial guardians who thereafter move out of North Carolina, the courts of this State maintain exclusive, continuing jurisdiction pursuant to the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act when the guardians file a petition, in a separate action, for the termination of parental rights.
H.D. was born in 2002 in Gaston County, North Carolina. On 27 March 2003, H.D. was found with her father, Chad D. (respondent), while he "was under the influence of marijuana[.]" Respondent "had left two loaded unsecured guns[,] a handgun and a rifle, within the reach of [one-year old H.D.]" At that time, respondent "had mental health problems" and "suffered from alcohol abuse."
On 28 March 2003, H.D. was placed in the custody of Gaston County Department of Social Services (DSS), and on 13 May 2003, the court adjudicated H.D. to be neglected and dependent. H.D. was placed with Kelly A. (mother). Thereafter, mother and respondent resumed their relationship, and mother and H.D. moved in with respondent, in violation of a court order. DSS removed H.D. from mother's custody.
On 19 August 2003, the court approved a case plan ordering that respondent "submit to random drug screens, comply with parenting training, anger management and drug and psychological evaluations." Prior to August 2003, respondent attended only two of five scheduled supervised visitations with H.D.
On 21 October 2003, the court placed H.D. in foster care with Tony and Christine Helms, relatives of H.D.'s mother, and ordered that respondent comply with the recommendations of DSS. Between October 2003 and 14 January 2004, the court found that "[mother and respondent] made minimal efforts to comply with recommendations and remedy the conditions that necessitated removal." Respondent's contact with Tony and Christine Helms was "disruptive and negative," and respondent's "repeated interference" resulted in the foster parents "surrendering [H.D.] to [DSS] rather than deal further with [respondent]."
On 14 March 2005, the District Court of Gaston County, North Carolina, entered an order, to which respondent consented, granting custody of H.D. to James R. and Crystal Helms, who were also relatives of H.D.'s mother.
On 27 June 2005, the court entered an order amending the 14 March 2005 order to require respondent to submit to "hair follicle drug tests." The court also scheduled telephonic contact between respondent and H.D.
On 31 August 2005, the court entered an order suspending visitation and finding that respondent had not submitted to drug tests as previously ordered. Respondent testified that he "had no good excuse" for not taking the required drug tests.
*429On 17 May 2006, respondent sought to reinstate visitation with H.D. through a motion in the cause, on grounds that he had complied with the court's 31 August 2005 order. Respondent complied with the order in that he had submitted to a hair follicle drug test, but the results of the test were positive for marijuana metabolites. On 21 June 2005, the court entered an order denying respondent visitation. After the court's order on 21 June 2005, respondent made "no effort to comply with the ordered drug tests."
In February 2006, the court entered an order finding that H.D. had been placed with James R. and Crystal Helms for more than one year and that placement was stable. The trial court found that father violated the March 2005 order by failing to take required drug tests, by interfering with the Helms' peace and quiet through unwarranted "inquiries regarding [H.D.] in an uncooperative, confrontational, and belligerent manner[,]" by refusing to stop using marijuana, and by displaying hostility toward DSS, the foster parents, and the Helms throughout the previous three years.
On 4 April 2006, James R. and Crystal Helms filed a petition in a separate action pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1103(a)(2), to terminate respondent and mother's parental rights.
On 14 September 2006, the court entered an order terminating respondent and mother's parental rights, concluding pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(2), that they had willfully left H.D. in placement outside the home for more than twelve months without reasonable progress, and that it was in H.D.'s best interests to terminate respondent's parental rights.
From this order, respondent appeals. Mother did not appeal the order of termination.
I: Subject Matter Jurisdiction
In his first argument, respondent contends that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to enter the order terminating his parental rights, because H.D. and her custodial guardians resided in Alabama when the petition for termination was filed. We disagree.
"Subject matter jurisdiction refers to the power of the court to deal with the kind of action in question . . . . [and] is conferred upon the courts by either the North Carolina Constitution or by statute." Harris v. Pembaur,
N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1101 (2005), states that "[t]he court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and determine any petition or motion relating to termination of parental rights to any juvenile who resides in, is found in, or is in the legal or actual custody of a county department of social services or licensed child-placing agency in the district at the time of filing of the petition or motion."
"[W]hen a prior custody order exists, a court cannot ignore the provisions of the UCCJEA and the [Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act]." In re Brode,
Once a court of this State has made an initial child-custody determination, the UCCJEA provides for "exclusive, continuing jurisdiction" pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 50A-202 (2005), which mandates that:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in G.S. 50A-204, a court of this State which has made a child-custody determination consistent with G.S. 50A-201 or G.S. 50A-203 has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the determination until:
(1) A court of this State determines that neither the child, the child's parents, and any person acting as a parent do not have a significant connection with this State and that substantial evidence is no longer available in this State concerning the child's care, protection, training, and personal relationships; or
(2) A court of this State or a court of another state determines that the child, the child's parents, and any person acting as a parent do not presently reside in this State.
(b) A court of this State which has made a child-custody determination and does not have exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under this section may modify that determination only if it has jurisdiction to make an initial determination under G.S. 50A-201.
N.C. Gen.Stat. § 50A-202 (2005). This section of the UCCJEA is consistent with In re Baby Boy Scearce, in which this Court held that "[o]nce jurisdiction of the court attaches to a child custody matter, it exists for all time until the cause is fully and completely determined." In re Baby Boy Scearce,
Importantly, we note the distinction between the "exclusive, original jurisdiction" of N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1101, and the "exclusive, continuing jurisdiction" of the UCCJEA. Blacks Law Dictionary, 869 (8th ed.2004), defines "exclusive jurisdiction" to mean "[a] court's power to adjudicate an action or class of actions to the exclusion of all other courts[.]" Further, "original jurisdiction" means "[a] court's power to hear and decide a matter before any other court can review the matter."
The opinion cited by the dissent, In re Leonard,
*431The provisions of the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act ("PKPA") are instructive. The PKPA provides that "[t]he jurisdiction of a court of a State which has made a child custody or visitation determination consistently with the provisions of this section continues as long as the requirement of subsection (c)(1) of this section continues to be met and such State remains the residence of the child or of any contestant." 28 U.S.C.A. § 1738A(d) (2002). Subsection (c)(1) provides that "[a] child custody or visitation determination made by a court of a State is consistent with the provisions of this section only if . . . (1) such court has jurisdiction under the law of such State[.]" 28 U.S.C.A. § 1738A(b)(3) defines a child custody determination as "a judgment, decree, or other order of a court providing for the custody of a child, and includes permanent and temporary orders, and initial orders and modifications." This Court has held that "[t]he PKPA has established the national policy with regard to custody jurisdiction, and to the extent a state custody statute conflicts with the PKPA, the federal statute controls." In re Bean,
In the instant case, James R. and Crystal Helms, H.D.'s custodial guardians, resided with H.D. in Alabama when the petition for termination was filed. H.D.'s parents resided in Gaston County, North Carolina. The initial custody determination was made by the Gaston County, North Carolina, court on 28 March 2003, when H.D. was placed in the custody of Gaston County DSS. After this initial custody determination, the courts of this State maintained exclusive, continuing jurisdiction. A court of this State has not made a determination that neither H.D., H.D.'s parents, nor any person acting as H.D.'s parent lack a significant connection with this State. N.C. Gen.Stat. § 50A-202 (2005)(a)(1). Nor has a court determined that "substantial evidence is no longer available in this State concerning the child's care, protection, training, and personal relationships."
Respondent specifically argues that In re D.D.J.,
(1) if the juvenile resides in the district at the time the petition is filed; (2) if the juvenile is found in the district at the time the petition is filed; or (3) if the juvenile is in the legal or actual custody of a county department of social services or licensed child-placing agency in the district at the time the petition is filed.
In re D.D.J.,
Further, In re D.D.J. is distinguishable from the instant case in two respects. First, in D.D.J., DSS did not have custody of the juvenile, and therefore, lacked standing to file for termination pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1103(a)(3) (2005), which provides:
A petition or motion to terminate the parental rights of either or both parents to his, her, or their minor juvenile may only be filed by one or more of the following: . . . Any county department of social services, consolidated county human services agency, or licensed child-placing agency to whom custody of the juvenile has been given by a court of competent jurisdiction.
*432Second, the trial court in D.D.J. had no jurisdiction to enter the 17 March 2004 order on termination subsequent to granting "full custody" of the juveniles to custodial guardians on 26 September 2003 and specifying that "this case is closed." See In re P.L.P.,
Here, James R. and Crystal Helms, H.D.'s guardians, had custody of H.D., and therefore, had standing to file a petition for termination pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1103(a)(3) (2005). Further, the district court of Gaston County had exclusive, continuing jurisdiction pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50A-202(a) (2005). The court did not, at any time, specify that the case as to H.D. was "closed." To the contrary, in an order entered 28 February 2006, the court specifically retained jurisdiction "for further orders." We conclude that the trial court had exclusive, continuing jurisdiction to enter the order terminating respondent's parental rights after jurisdiction attached on 28 March 2003, when the North Carolina court entered an order as to the custody of H.D. Since jurisdiction under the UCCJEA is exclusive and continuing, the courts of North Carolina still had jurisdiction over H.D. to enter an order terminating respondent's parental rights, even though H.D. resided in Alabama with the custodial guardians, because the requisites of "substantial connection" jurisdiction pursuant to Section 201 were met. This assignment of error is overruled.
II: Motions to Dismiss
In his second argument, respondent contends that the trial court erred by denying respondent's motions to dismiss.
Specifically, respondent argues that the trial court did not have jurisdiction to enter the order terminating respondent's parental rights because petitioners failed to attach a copy of the custody order to the petition for termination in violation of N.C. Gen.Stat. 7B-1104(5) (2005). We disagree.
N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1103 identifies the parties with standing to petition the trial court for termination of parental rights. N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1103; see also In re T.B.,
Respondent specifically relies upon In re Z.T.B.,
In Z.T.B., this Court held that the petition to terminate the father's parental rights was facially defective, and the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction due to the petitioner's failure to attach an existing custody order to the petition. However, in Z.T.B., "the issue of where the child was physically located and who had legal custody was very much in question at the time the petition to terminate the father's parental rights was filed." In re W.L.M., ___ N.C.App. ___,
In the case of In re T.B.,
In the instant case, petitioners concede that they did not attached a copy of the custody order to the petition to terminate respondents' parental rights. However, there is also no indication that respondent was unaware of H.D.'s placement at any point during the case. In fact, respondent entered into a consent order providing for H.D.'s guardianship with petitioners. Respondent was certainly aware of H.D.'s residence with the custodial guardians in Alabama. Further, the petition noted that "on February 9, 2005[,] the Petitioners were granted guardianship of the minor child, H.D[,]" and the custody order was made part of the record before the trial court. The petition also stated that "[o]n February 28, 2006, an Order was entered in the matter of In Re: H.D., . . . which provides that the Court sanctions a permanent plan of Guardianship and that the Petitioners shall remain the juvenile's permanent guardians pending further orders[.]" Various trial court orders in the record on appeal and referenced in the order terminating respondent's parental rights note that respondent was present at pre-termination hearings in which custody was granted to petitioners as well as hearings in which visitation options were determined.
In light of the foregoing, we conclude that respondent is unable to demonstrate any prejudice whatsoever arising from petitioners' failure to attach the pertinent custody order to the petition. Accordingly, we overrule this argument.
Respondent next argues that petitioners failed to allege sufficient facts as required by N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1104(6) to warrant a determination that grounds existed to terminate his parental rights.
N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1104 (2005) provides that "[t]he petition, or motion pursuant to G.S. 7B-1102, . . . shall set forth such of the following facts as are known; and with respect to the facts which are unknown the petitioner or movant shall so state: . . . (6) Facts that are sufficient to warrant a determination that one or more of the grounds for terminating parental rights exist."
In the instant case, however, respondent failed to preserve this matter for appeal. "The Rules of Civil Procedure apply to proceedings for termination of parental rights[,]" In re McKinney,
III: Reasonable Progress
In his final argument, respondent contends that the trial court erred by concluding that the father willfully left H.D. in placement outside the home for more than twelve months without showing to the satisfaction of the court that reasonable progress had been made to correct the conditions which led to the removal of H.D. We disagree.
Respondent specifically argues that because the trial court ceased reunification efforts and, in an order consented to by respondent, changed the child's permanent plan to custody by a permanent guardian, respondent lost the opportunity to make reasonable progress, and that N.C. Gen.Stat. 7B-1111(a)(2) cannot provide grounds for termination. Respondent argues that respondent's failure to make reasonable progress under N.C. Gen.Stat. 7B-1111(a)(2) could never be willful, since DSS had ceased reunification efforts. We find respondent's argument unpersuasive.
In the case of In re A.C.F.,
Moreover, the trial court entered the following findings, which are binding on this Court due to respondent's failure to "set out [an argument] in [his] brief," with cited authority. See N.C. R.App. R. 28(b)(6).
43. The Respondents, as parents, have only sporadically complied with the case *435plans and have, on balance, failed to show any positive response to the efforts to assist them.
44. The Respondent . . . has willfully refused, with no good cause, to stop using marijuana.
45. Respondent . . . is competent to participate in this case, and has been lucid and aware of the meaning of the hearing, and has meaningfully participated in, and assisted his lawyer in his presentation of, evidence before the court.
46. That Respondent . . . has displayed inappropriate behavior and unwarranted hostility toward [DSS], foster parents, and the juvenile's guardians throughout the last three years, leading this Court to conclude that he has not meaningfully address the anger problems which contributed to the juvenile's removal.
Because the trial court's findings support its conclusion that grounds for termination existed pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(2), and because these findings were based on clear, cogent and convincing evidence stemming from the period of time between H.D.'s initial removal from respondent's custody and respondent's entry of the consent order granting guardianship to petitioners, we conclude that the requirements set forth by N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(2) and A.C.F. are satisfied. This assignment of error is overruled.
IV: Hearsay
In his next argument, respondent contends that the trial court erred by overruling his objections to the admission of the DSS file, testimony with respect to the contents of the file, and other testimony that constituted inadmissible hearsay. We disagree. Even assuming arguendo that the records contain inadmissible hearsay, respondent has failed to demonstrate that the trial court's order must be reversed.
Respondent does not demonstrate prejudice in his argument on appeal, which is necessary for this Court to reverse the trial court's order. See In re T.M., ___ N.C.App. ___, ___,
Further, there is a presumption in a bench trial is that "the judge disregarded any incompetent evidence that may have been admitted unless it affirmatively appears that he was influenced thereby." In re L.C., ___ N.C.App. ___, ___,
*436We conclude that respondent has failed to demonstrate that the trial court's order must be reversed and overrule this assignment of error.
V: Clear, Cogent and Convincing Evidence
In respondent's next argument, respondent contends that pertinent findings of fact were not supported by clear, cogent and convincing evidence, and do not support the trial court's conclusion to terminate respondent's parental rights. We disagree.
On appeal, this Court must determine whether the trial court's findings of fact were supported by clear, cogent and convincing evidence, and whether its conclusion that grounds existed to terminate parental rights was supported by those findings of fact. In re Huff,
In its order terminating respondent's parental rights, the court found that:
42. Respondent . . . has been a disruptive and negative influence on the juvenile, insisting on the focus of his contact with the juvenile being primarily on the juvenile's reference to him as "daddy," rather than on the juvenile's development, emotional state or interests, all to the juvenile's confusion and detriment.
Respondent contends that even though respondent "had an extremely contentious relationship with the petitioners[,]" respondent was not "disruptive" or "negative," because he made weekly calls to H.D., all of which "did not deal with whether his daughter called him `daddy'[.]" However, petitioner testified that "[respondent] tells her that . . . we're her pretend daddy and not her real mommy and daddy[;] . . . [that] she's been a bad little girl and Jesus doesn't like it; he's watching[;] . . . that we're trying to steal her from him." Petitioner said, respondent "continue[s] to tell her that we're the reason that he can't visit." Petitioner stated that respondent "was very antagonistic with me [when he called], [and] tried to engage me in arguments." We conclude that respondent's argument as to this finding is unpersuasive, and that the finding is supported by clear, cogent and convincing evidence. See In re Helms,
Respondent generally argues that the remaining challenged findings of fact, numbers 41, 43, 48, 49, 60 and 61, were not supported by clear, cogent and convincing evidence. However, respondent does not bring forward her assignments of error with specific arguments challenging these findings of fact. Rather, respondent only generally states that the findings "are not supported by clear, cogent and convincing evidence." Findings of fact not argued on appeal are deemed to be supported by sufficient evidence, and are binding on appeal. N.C. R.App. P. 28(b)(6) (2006).
VI: Neglect
In respondent's final argument, he contends that the trial court erred by concluding that grounds existed to terminate respondent's parental rights pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(1). As only one ground is necessary to support the termination, and the trial court properly concluded that grounds for termination existed pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(2), we need not address whether evidence existed to support termination based on N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-1111(a)(1). See In re J.A.A.,
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court's decision to terminate respondent's parental rights.
AFFIRMED.
Judge GEER concurs.
Judge LEVINSON dissents in separate opinion.
Dissenting Opinion
I respectfully dissent, on the grounds that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction *437to enter the order terminating respondent's parental rights. Neither the court's general jurisdiction over proceedings for termination of parental rights, nor its continuing jurisdiction over custody after an initial custody determination, may substitute for the specific standing requirements for termination of parental rights.
Subject matter jurisdiction for termination of parental rights is governed by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-1101 (2005), which provides in pertinent part that:
The court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and determine any petition or motion relating to termination of parental rights to any juvenile who resides in, is found in, or is in the legal or actual custody of a county department of social services . . . at the time of filing of the petition or motion. . . . Provided, that before exercising jurisdiction under this Article, the court shall find that it has jurisdiction to make a child-custody determination under the provisions of G.S. 50A-201, 50A-203, or 50A-204 . . . . (emphasis added).
"When the language of a statute is clear and without ambiguity, it is the duty of this Court to give effect to the plain meaning of the statute, and judicial construction of legislative intent is not required." Diaz v. Division of Soc. Servs.,
This Court has held that there are three sets of circumstances in which the court has jurisdiction to hear a petition to terminate parental rights: (1) if the juvenile resides in the district at the time the petition is filed; (2) if the juvenile is found in the district at the time the petition is filed; or (3) if the juvenile is in the legal or actual custody of a county department of social services or licensed child-placing agency in the district at the time the petition is filed.
In re D.D.J.,
The majority opinion presumably is based on language in Section 7B-1101 following the statute's articulation of the prerequisites for jurisdiction, that "before exercising jurisdiction under this Article, the court shall find that it has jurisdiction to make a child-custody determination under the provisions of G.S. [§ ] 50A-201, 50A-203, or 50A-204." This statutory language requires that the court not only determine that jurisdiction exists under Section 1101, but that it also make sure "before exercising jurisdiction under this Article" that the exercise of jurisdiction would not run afoul of the UCCJEA. The statute nowhere suggests that compliance with the UCCJEA is a substitute for the jurisdiction requirements of G.S. § 7B-1101. Further, while Section 50A-201 et seq. addresses the general limits on a state's jurisdiction in a situation where more than one state might be involved, Section 1101 is specifically addressed to the subject matter jurisdiction requirements for termination of parental rights proceedings. It is a legal truism that "a statute dealing with a specific situation controls, with respect to that situation, other sections which are general in their application." Utilities Comm. v. Electric Membership Corp.,
Moreover, binding precedent of this Court has held that the provisions of the UCCJEA are no substitute for the jurisdictional requirements of the juvenile code. In In re *438Leonard,
While a determination of jurisdiction over child custody matters will precede a determination of jurisdiction over parental rights, it does not supplant the parental rights proceedings.
Other cases have likewise held that, before exercising jurisdiction over a termination of parental rights proceeding, the trial court must determine that it has jurisdiction under both G.S. § 7B-1101 and Chapter 50A. See, e.g., In re N.R.M. and T.F.M.,
Finally, the holding of In re D.D.J.,
The majority is correct that, having made an initial custody determination, North Carolina continued to enjoy exclusive continuing jurisdiction over custody matters generally. However, North Carolina did not meet the specific jurisdictional requirements of Section 1101. Both the plain language of the statute and binding precedent establish that the trial court lacked jurisdiction over this termination of parental rights proceeding. Accordingly, the order on appeal must be vacated.