327 results for 'cat:"Guardianship"'.
J. Longoria finds that the lower court improperly denied the appellant's amended bill of review, which sought to challenge certain parts of a guardianship order. The appellant contends that he was named beneficiary on certain accounts and that the order had given the guardian unauthorized powers to change the beneficiary designation. The court concludes that he was an "interested person" and that the challenged provisions were not authorized under the Texas Estates Code. Accordingly, the case is remanded for further proceedings. Reversed.
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals, Judge: Longoria, Filed On: May 16, 2024, Case #: 13-22-00592-CV, Categories: Civil Procedure, guardianship
[Consolidated] J. Moore finds the juvenile court properly denied the state's motions to terminate the father's parental rights. The state became involved when the mother’s youngest child, a half-sibling of the father’s children, tested positive for drugs at birth. The father, with a history of drug abuse, was in jail at the time of the filings. Though the children have been in foster care for a large part of their lives, because of the positive father/child relationship, his expressed desire to parent them and his success in following his case plan, the state was unable to prove by clear and convincing evidence he is an unfit parent. Affirmed.
Court: Nebraska Court Of Appeals, Judge: Moore, Filed On: May 14, 2024, Case #: A-23-631, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, guardianship
Per curiam, the Vermont Supreme Court finds the lower court properly terminated a father’s parental rights to his child. There was sufficient evidence to support the determination that the father had “stagnated in his progress toward reunification.” Affirmed.
Court: Vermont Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: May 10, 2024, Case #: 24-AP-019, Categories: Family Law, guardianship
J. Klappenbach finds the circuit court properly terminated the mother's parental rights to her two children. The 18- and 6-month-old children were taken into custody when the children’s putative father was arrested on drugs and weapons charges during the mother's period of incarceration on a different conviction. All evidence supports the best interest finding and the court committed no reversible error in denying the mother's motion to have witnesses testify remotely. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Klappenbach , Filed On: May 8, 2024, Case #: CV-23-837, Categories: Family Law, Due Process, guardianship
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J. Ortiz finds a lower court erred when it reduced the child support obligations of an ex-husband following a divorce. The court based the reduction on supplementary security income benefits received by the couple’s disabled adult child, but these benefits are not an “independent financial resource” that can “justify a reduction in a parent’s child-support obligation.” Reversed.
Court: Virginia Court Of Appeals, Judge: Ortiz, Filed On: May 7, 2024, Case #: 0877-22-2, Categories: Family Law, Social Security, guardianship
Per curiam, the Nebraska Supreme Court finds the district court applied irrelevant case law in finding the Department of Health and Human Services did not breach its duty of care. The foster siblings allege the department breached its duty by placing them with a foster parent who sexually assaulted them. The department's argument relied on an inmate wrongful death-based case establishing tort claims exemption for the state for “[a]ny claim arising out of assault [or] battery.” The court found that another case, involving foster placement and assault applied, ruling the siblings did not provide sufficient evidence to prove the breach. The sovereign immunity analysis cannot focus only on the state's alleged negligence, ignoring that it allowed the assault to occur. Vacated in part.
Court: Nebraska Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: May 3, 2024, Case #: S-21-1037, Categories: Tort, Immunity, guardianship
J. Brown finds the circuit court properly terminated the parents' parental rights to their minor children. The department exercised a hold on the children, filing a petition for dependency-neglect after the incoherent and lethargic father was taken to the hospital for suspected drug use. The mother admitted to being on drugs, though she refused testing, also refusing to allow the department to investigate the state of the home. She admitted to being five months pregnant, though she refused treatment. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Brown , Filed On: May 1, 2024, Case #: CV-24-5, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, guardianship
J. Moore finds the county court properly entered the custody and support order, also properly valuating and dividing property in this marriage dissolution. The divorced couple agreed to the custody and support order, and no reversible error is found in the court’s failure to include a parenting plan and support calculation in the decree. Though the court awarded all property inside the marital home to the wife, this does except certain boxed property of the husband's. Affirmed.
Court: Nebraska Court Of Appeals, Judge: Moore , Filed On: April 30, 2024, Case #: A-23-496, Categories: Family Law, Property, guardianship
Per curiam, the Nevada Supreme Court grants the petition for a writ of mandamus challenging the denial of a petition for temporary guardianship over minor children. The grandparents filed a petition for general guardianship, explaining the children had been exposed to unsafe conditions living with their mother and her new partner with a criminal background. The petition was denied without prejudice for failure to provide proof of proper service. The mother filed an objection, and the children filed to appoint the grandparents as temporary guardians pending a decision on general guardianship. The court denied the petition without a hearing, failing to give the request consideration.
Court: Nevada Supreme Court, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: April 25, 2024, Case #: 88027, Categories: Family Law, Due Process, guardianship
J. Hixson finds the circuit court properly terminated the parents' rights to their children based on sufficient evidence. The department was granted a petition for emergency custody and dependency-neglect after the mother tested positive for multiple drugs when giving birth. It then found each parent to be in partial and minimal compliance with the original case plan for reunification. Though certain evidence shows the parents were bonded with the children, the bond is not sufficient to prevent termination. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Hixson , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: CV-23-785, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, guardianship
J. Harrison finds the circuit court properly entered the divorce decree and custody and support order, finding the ex-wife to be in contempt. The court correctly denied the mother's request to relocate, finding it in the child's best interest to remain where his support system is located. There is ample evidence the mother's failure to control her emotions caused the child's anxiety during visitation exchanges. At one exchange, the mother was crying so loudly she could not hear the visitation supervisor speaking. The child's counselor also testified that certain of the mother's actions could be considered intentional sabotage and that it is damaging for the child to be purposefully kept from his father. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Harrison , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: CV-23-240, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, guardianship
J. Murphy finds the circuit court properly denied the stepfather's petition to adopt his 13-year-old stepdaughter. The stepfather sought adoption after the child's biological father petitioned to establish paternity and visitation. Though the healthy, academically achieving daughter considers her stepfather her father, having no interest in visitations with her biological father, the record demonstrates the mother hindered the biological father/daughter relationship by not telling him about her for the first two years of her life. The mother also told the daughter she was conceived by rape. The biological father has regularly paid child support, also carrying insurance on the daughter. Adoption is in derogation of the natural parent's rights and the biological father has contested the adoption. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Murphy , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: CV-23-311, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, guardianship
J. Combs finds the district court properly terminated the mother and father's parental rights. The medical examiner testified the 15-year-old daughter reported abuse that had occurred for a number of years, which led to an examination confirming the abuse and the doctor's contacting police. Multiple witnesses with law enforcement and protective services testified to the mother and father's dismissive behavior and unwillingness to take part in a safety plan. The mother lacks standing to challenge the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act and the trial court did not violate her right to equal protection by failing to apply the Act's heightened burden of proof. Affirmed.
Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court, Judge: Combs , Filed On: April 23, 2024, Case #: 120910, Categories: Family Law, Native Americans, guardianship
J. Stacy finds the county court properly entered the order finding the stroke patient incapacitated, appointing a permanent guardian. Found by protective services to be vulnerable to financial exploitation, self-neglect and undue influence, the patient's caseworker sought to establish a guardianship. It was proper for the court to admit a neuropsychological report into evidence. Including this report, ample evidence supports the finding as to the patient's capacity and that a full guardianship is the least restrictive alternative to provide care. Affirmed.
Court: Nebraska Supreme Court, Judge: Stacy , Filed On: April 19, 2024, Case #: S-23-209, Categories: Evidence, Health Care, guardianship
J. Harrison finds the circuit court properly dismissed the father's appeal of the order terminating his parental rights. The Department of Human Services exercised custody of two of the children after their infant sibling died and the crime lab discovered drugs in the body. The children have achieved permanent placement, and all evidence supports termination. The court lacked authority to reopen the case once the children achieved permanency. The dependency-neglect case is closed, and there is no jurisdiction to reopen. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Harrison , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CV-23-737, Categories: Family Law, Jurisdiction, guardianship
J. Welch finds the district court properly modified custody, parenting time and child support. Though the mother says no evidence shows she failed to cooperatively parent during a conflict involving a child's desire to change schools, she did bring one of the children into custody issues by influencing the child's decision to change schools and by filing a motion to have the child testify at trial. The evidence is sufficient to find a material change in circumstances affecting the children’s best interests. Affirmed.
Court: Nebraska Court Of Appeals, Judge: Welch , Filed On: April 16, 2024, Case #: A-23-088, Categories: Family Law, guardianship
J. Welch finds the district court properly granted the mother's complaint for modification of child custody and her request to remove the child from Nebraska to Wyoming. Testimony at trial, including from a mental health substance abuse counselor and the child's preschool teacher and daycare director, shows a material change in circumstances related to the father's escalated drinking following the entry of the divorce decree. The short distance of the move and the court’s award of parenting time provides a reasonable visitation schedule for fostering a meaningful relationship between the father and child. Affirmed.
Court: Nebraska Court Of Appeals, Judge: Welch , Filed On: April 16, 2024, Case #: A-23-571, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, guardianship
J. Gibbons finds the district court properly awarded primary custody of the divorced parties' child to the father. Though the mother says the summons was sent to a previous address and that she did not receive proper service, she did not seek dismissal. Seeking adjudication on the merits, she effectively consented to the court's jurisdiction and waived dismissal based upon a failure to effectuate service. The record supports the court's denial of the mother's request for child support arrears. Affirmed.
Court: Nevada Court of Appeals, Judge: Gibbons , Filed On: April 12, 2024, Case #: 87208-COA, Categories: Family Law, Due Process, guardianship
J. Lynch finds that the lower court properly denied a mother's request to end guardianship of her disabled son to allow him to move from a group home to her residence because the mother made the request just days after a guardian had been named and thus failed to provide a sufficient legal or factual basis on which to terminate the order, since the son remained unable to provide for his own personal needs. Affirmed.
Court: New York Appellate Divisions, Judge: Lynch, Filed On: April 11, 2024, Case #: 536174, Categories: guardianship
J. Gruber finds the circuit court properly adjudicated the children dependent-neglected. The department removed the children after finding evidence the parents were making up symptoms requiring medical treatment. Treating physicians testified no records support any need for the children's treatment for congenital disease. Though the parents objected to a question asked by the prosecution regarding discussions a witness had with a treating doctor, the prosecution was asked to rephrase the question. The parents have not shown prejudice. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gruber , Filed On: April 10, 2024, Case #: CV-23-598, Categories: Family Law, Health Care, guardianship
J. Desmond affirms a mother and father’s parental rights to their twin daughters but vacates an order denying the twins’ and their older brother’s motions for sibling visitation. The mother and father engaged in substance abuse and domestic violence and then lied about doing so, but while the older brother exhibited troubling behaviors, he wasn’t shown to have put the twins at risk. Affirmed in part.
Court: Massachusetts Court Of Appeals, Judge: Desmond, Filed On: April 4, 2024, Case #: 23-P-294, Categories: Family Law, guardianship, Assault
J. Forbes finds the trial court properly terminated the mother and father’s parental rights and granted permanent custody of the child to family services in the best interest of the children. The mother and father completed the case plan services but demonstrated that they did not benefit from the services as they continued their relationship and two more domestic violence incidents happened within a month. Affirmed.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Forbes, Filed On: April 4, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-1283, Categories: Family Law, guardianship
J. Hixson finds the circuit court properly denied the mother's motion to modify child support. The mother alleges the father had not visited their older children, and that she fully supports them without his help. She says that even though the court granted joint custody, the father had not abided by the order, and should not have the benefit of an offset for his support. The order did not require the father have visitation with the older children, and the mother has not argued there has been any material change in circumstances as required for modification. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Hixson , Filed On: April 3, 2024, Case #: CV-23-192, Categories: Family Law, guardianship
J. Welch finds the trial court properly modified the custody order granting the father more parenting time. The court properly found the mother interfered with the father and child's relationship, which constituted a change in circumstances affecting the child's best interests. However, the court improperly required the mother to provide support while denying her benefit without showing the source is her own income. Reversed in part.
Court: Nebraska Court Of Appeals, Judge: Welch , Filed On: April 2, 2024, Case #: A-23-311, Categories: Family Law, Due Process, guardianship
J. Murphy finds the county court improperly declined the mother's request to modify custody. Since the entry of the order, the father was arrested for domestic battery, was under investigation for child abuse and had slapped the child in the face when he would have been six years old or younger. The court improperly found no material change had occurred warranting modification. Reversed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Murphy , Filed On: March 27, 2024, Case #: CV-23-259, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, guardianship
J. Mitchell finds that the lower court improperly ruled when denying a nursing home’s motion to compel arbitration against two daughter co-guardians of a patient who died in their facility, even with only one daughter signing the the arbitration clause. Each of the co-guardians had "independent authority to sign agreements on behalf of their ward." Reversed.
Court: Alabama Supreme Court, Judge: Mitchell, Filed On: March 22, 2024, Case #: SC-2023-0433, Categories: Arbitration, Wrongful Death, guardianship
J. Shin vacates the dismissal of a conservator’s petition to probate the decedent’s will, which the conservator but not the decedent signed, based on a misunderstanding of relevant statutes. While the conservator made an error, it would not be consistent with the purpose of relevant statutes to allow this error, made in good faith, to override the decedent’s intent — which is still reflected in the will despite its lack of the decedent’s signature. Reversed.
Court: Massachusetts Court Of Appeals, Judge: Shin, Filed On: March 21, 2024, Case #: 22-P-210, Categories: Wills / Probate, guardianship