The respondents, mother and father, appeal an order of the Henniker Family Division (Scheffy, J.) terminating their parental rights over their son, Jack L., on the grounds of abandonment. See RSA 170-C:5, I (2002); RSA 170-C:15 (2002). We affirm.
I
The record supports the following. Jack L. was born in February 1999 to the respondents. In January 2004, based on certain aspects of the mother’s treatment of the child, the Coos County Probate Court granted, with the consent of the parents, a guardianship over the child to his paternal grandmother.
Three years later, the division for children, youth and families (DCYF) filed a petition against the grandmother in the Hillsborough District Court, pursuant to RSA chapter 169-C (2002 & Supp. 2010), alleging that she had neglected Jack L., based on an inability to provide proper supervision for, or maintain the safety of, Jack L. and his sister in the home. In connection with this proceeding, the court appointed a guardian ad litem (GAL) for Jack L. At a preliminary hearing in July 2007, both parents were present. Stating that “the children’s natural parents . . . are at risk of losing their parental rights as a result of this petition,” the District Court {Barry, J.) also appointed counsel to represent them individually. In August, psychological evaluations of both parents were conducted. In September, both parents left New Hampshire and moved to the State of Washington.
Following an adjudicatory hearing scheduled for August 8, see RSA 169-C.T8 (2002), a dispositional hearing was held on November 14,2007. By that time, the case had been transferred to the Henniker Family Division. The Henniker Family Division found that the grandmother had neglected Jack L. and awarded legal custody of the child to DCYF. Although the parents had been sent notice of the dispositional hearing, they remained out of state and did not attend.
In March 2008, a three-month review hearing was held. Again, the parents were sent notice of the review hearing, but did not attend. By that time, the parents had moved from Washington, but had not provided DCYF with a new address. In April, the father contacted DCYF, as he “was in the area” and wanted to see his daughter and Jack L. DCYF informed the father that he would need to see the children’s therapist before any such visit could occur. The father met with his daughter’s therapist once, and had one unauthorized contact with Jack L.
In June 2008, a six-month review hearing was held; DCYF still had no address or telephone number for either of the parents. In August, a DCYF child protection service worker (CPSW) learned from the grandmother that the parents were living
On December 18, 2008, DCYF filed termination of parental rights (TPR) petitions against both parents on the grounds that they had abandoned Jack L. The parents unsuccessfully moved to dismiss the petitions, arguing, among other things, that their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq. (2006), were violated because guardians were not provided for them in the underlying neglect proceedings. Subsequent to a hearing, at which both parents appeared with counsel, their parental rights were terminated on February 10, 2010. This appeal followed.
II
Parental rights are “natural, essential, and inherent” within the meaning of Part I, Article 2 of the New Hampshire Constitution.
In re Adam R.,
The trial court, as the trier of fact, is in the best position to assess and weigh the evidence before it.
Id.
It has the benefit of observing the parties and their witnesses.
Id.
We will not disturb the family division’s finding unless it is unsupported by the evidence or plainly erroneous as a matter of law.
Zachary G.,
Although the parents have filed co-appeals and individual briefs, their allegations of family division error are virtually identical. Specifically, they argue that the family division erred “as a matter of law” in: (1) “den[ying] [their] Motion to Dismiss based on the failure of [DCYF] to appoint a Guardian for [them] under the [ADA] in the underlying Abuse/Neglect matter”; and (2) “reject[ing their] argument that [their] relationship with
[the grandmother] constituted an agency and that said agency precluded a finding of abandonment under [RSA 170-C:5,1], where [the grandmother] inquired about [Jack L.’s] welfare on [their] behalf...” We address each of the parents’ arguments in turn below.
Ill
The parents first contend that the family division should have dismissed the TPR petition based on the fact that they were not provided with GALs or guardians in the original neglect proceedings against the grandmother. We note that at various points in their filings and arguments before this court, the parents appear to have used the terms “guardian” and “guardian ad litem” interchangeably. In the absence of any suggestion to the contrary by either parent, we assume that, however characterized, what the parents claim was required was the appointment for each of them of a suitable person (besides appointed counsel) to represent his or her interests in the neglect proceedings. Neither parent suggests that he or she required the appointment of a guardian of the person for all purposes.
DCYF argues that the parents failed to preserve this issue, as they neither raised it during the neglect proceedings, nor appealed the family division’s finding of neglect. We agree that, insofar as the parents seek to attack the neglect proceedings directly, by predicating error on a failure to provide GALs or guardians for them in that case, the issue is not preserved for our appellate review. The record does not reflect that either the parents or their attorneys ever requested the appointment of GALs or guardians to represent them in the neglect case, or objected — on ADA grounds or otherwise — to a failure to provide GALs or guardians. Nor did the parents appeal the neglect case to the superior court pursuant to RSA 169~C:28, a prerequisite to bringing the case before this court. As such, the issue is not preserved.
In contrast, insofar as the parents argue that the family division erred by not allowing them, in effect, to collaterally attack a failure to provide GALs or guardians for them in the neglect proceedings as a basis to dismiss the TPR petitions, we find that this issue was preserved for appellate review. This allegation of error arises from the family division’s June 10, 2009 denial of the parents’ motions to dismiss the TPR petitions, not the November 2007 finding of neglect against the grandmother. The record indicates that the parents’ arguments concerning a failure to provide GALs or guardians under the ADA in the neglect case were raised by the mother in her March 4,2009 motion to dismiss the TPR petition and her supporting memorandum of law, and by the father on the same date in his addendum to his motion to dismiss the TPR petition. The record is also clear that the family division was aware of, and considered, the parents’ ADA arguments when denying their motions to dismiss. The parents’ appeal of the family division’s February 10, 2010 order terminating their parental rights was timely filed on March 17, 2010. Thus, this issue is properly before us.
Although the argument that the TPR proceeding should have been dismissed because the parents were not provided with GALs or guardians in the neglect proceeding is properly preserved, we find the argument lacking in merit. The finding of neglect was made against the grandmother, not against the parents, and, as already noted, the parents did not appeal the dispositional order in the neglect case to superior court, as was their right.
See
RSA 169-C:28,1 (appeal may be taken to superior court by child, child’s authorized representative, “or any party having an interest”). The parents do not argue that had they been provided with GALs or guardians in the neglect proceeding, the court would not have found neglect on the part of the grandmother. Nor do they argue that had they been provided with GALs or guardians in the neglect proceeding,
In short, whether GALs or guardians should have been provided to the parents in the neglect case is irrelevant to the TPR action. Therefore, we find no error in the family division’s denial of the parents’ motions to dismiss the TPR case on these grounds.
IV
The parents next contend that the family division erred in rejecting their argument that their relationship with the grandmother constituted an “agency relationship” that precluded a finding of abandonment under RSA 170-C:5, I, because the grandmother inquired about Jack L.’s welfare on their behalf. The parents acknowledge that they know of no authority that directly applies the principles of agency law to TPR proceedings. The family division rejected the argument, stating: “It is a novel theory but I cannot accept it as a reasonable substitute for actual parenting or as a defense to the petitions.”
We need not decide whether an agency theory can ever be successfully asserted as a defense to a TPR proceeding alleging abandonment. What is clear, however, is that no such defense is available to the parents in this case given the factual circumstances presented here.
The December 2008 TPR petitions alleged that both the father and the mother had abandoned Jack L., in that neither parent had contact with the child since August 25, 2007, a period well in excess of six months. See RSA 170-C:5,1 (presumption of abandonment arises where parent has left child in care and custody of another without communication from parent for a period of six months). By November 2007, the family division had already made a finding of neglect against the grandmother. The grandmother no longer had legal custody of Jack L. and was not responsible for his care, as legal custody had been awarded to DCYF. Instead of attempting to become responsible for their child to whatever extent possible, the parents left the child, and the grandmother, by moving out of state.
Moreover, the record contains ample evidence that, subsequent to their relocation from New Hampshire, the mother made virtually no efforts, and the father made no more than minimal efforts, to communicate
I am left to guess what the [parents’] intentions were but their actions made it clear that [Jack L.] was not sufficiently a priority in their lives that they did anything to provide for his emotional or financial welfare. The fact that this went on for a period in excess of six months satisfies the statutory requirements to form a rebuttable presumption [of abandonment]; the fact that it went on
We agree with the above assessment and reiterate what we stated in
In re Thomas M.,
Parental responsibilities come in many forms, and some, we presume, may be discharged by delegation. Others require the active involvement of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian. Caring for a child’s emotional well-being falls under the latter category. No doubt fulfillment of this obligation co-exists with periodic substitute care while the adult is temporarily separated from the child. But a parent, guardian, or custodian cannot pretend to discharge this responsibility during an extended absence without some contact with the children in his or her care.
Thomas M.,
The parents have appealed only the family division’s finding of abandonment under RSA 170-C:5,1. They have not appealed the family division’s finding that termination of their parental rights was in the best interest of Jack L. Therefore, we need not address the latter finding.
Affirmed.