444 results for 'cat:"Evidence" AND cat:"Family Law"'.
J. Bock finds the trial court properly awarded the wife equity in the marital residence. Although the husband made financial contributions to the property during the couple's marriage, he financially abandoned her during their separation, which entitled her to the equity award. Meanwhile, the court properly denied the husband's request for spousal support because he was not working to his full earning capacity and failed to provide any evidence he was unable to find full-time employment. Affirmed.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Bock, Filed On: May 1, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-1663, Categories: evidence, family Law
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. Parker finds that the lower court properly entered an order modifying the parent-child relationship and appointed the father as "sole managing conservator with the exclusive right to determine the residence" of the children. Contrary to the mother's argument, the evidence sufficiently supports the lower court's best interest finding. Affirmed.
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals, Judge: Parker, Filed On: April 30, 2024, Case #: 07-24-00002-CV, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Eklund finds that although the husband made the $15,000 payment from his deferred compensation account prior to the couple's signing of their dissolution agreement, the lower court properly found the payment satisfied his obligation because the payment was made less than one month before the agreement was signed and it was consistent with the unambiguous terms of the agreement. Meanwhile, even though the separation agreement required the husband to make payments for the wife's student loans, the parties "side agreement" to forego such payments and the wife's decision not to attempt collection for over six years after their divorce supported the court's decision to find she relinquished any right to the payments. Affirmed.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Eklund, Filed On: April 29, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-1646, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Edwards finds that the lower court improperly assessed costs against the prospective adoptive parents in this case involving their adoption petition and the biological mother's withdrawal of consent. The amount of the award is not supported by the record. The case is remanded for the lower court "to itemize the costs it assessed against the prospective adoptive parents and to permit them, if necessary, to challenge any particular costs." Reversed in part.
Court: Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, Judge: Edwards, Filed On: April 26, 2024, Case #: CL-2023-0572, Categories: evidence, family Law, Attorney Fees
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Per curiam, the court of civil appeals finds that the lower court properly determined the child to be dependent and awarded sole custody to the maternal grandparents. The father contends that the lower court erred by "finding the child dependent as to him." However, the record shows that the mother abandoned the child by relinquishing her rights to the grandparents, meaning the dependency ruling was appropriate. Also, there was no abuse of discretion with the custodial ruling. Affirmed.
Court: Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, Judge: Per curiam, Filed On: April 26, 2024, Case #: CL-2023-0616, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Silva finds that the lower court properly terminated the parental rights of the mother to her two children. Contrary to the mother's arguments on appeal, the evidence sufficiently supports the statutory grounds for termination and the lower court's best interest finding. There was evidence of drug use by the mother while she was pregnant. There was also evidence that she failed to complete her service plan and testimony that the children's current foster placement is with a "loving home." Affirmed.
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals, Judge: Silva, Filed On: April 25, 2024, Case #: 13-23-00591-CV, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Garcia finds that the lower court properly entered an order in this suit to modify the parent-child relationship. The order required the mother to pay child support to the father, and the mother now argues that the evidence was insufficient to establish "a material and substantial change of circumstances." However, the record does not contain certain interviews, and there is a presumption that "the missing evidence supports the trial judge's finding." Affirmed.
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals, Judge: Garcia, Filed On: April 25, 2024, Case #: 05-23-00392-CV, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Gallagher finds the trial court improperly determined the husband's sale of several investment products and dissipation of more than $60,000 from a checking account constituted financial misconduct. The profits from the investments were used to satisfy tax obligations, while the money from the checking account was wired to the wife's attorney or used to make mortgage payments on the marital residence; therefore, the award of $500,000 to the wife for financial misconduct will be vacated. Reversed in part.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gallagher, Filed On: April 25, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-1585, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Boyle finds the trial court properly determined the husband's retirement and substantial decrease in income represented a change in circumstances that allowed for a reduction in his spousal support payments, while the reduction from $12,000 to $2,500 per month was also reasonable, given the husband's modified income and the wife's current earning potential. Affirmed.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Boyle, Filed On: April 25, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-1581, Categories: evidence, family Law
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. Stone finds that the trial court should not have recused a judge in this divorce case based on the husband's claim of impartiality. There was no evidence that the judge was “biased, prejudiced, or interested in the cause” of this matter. Reversed and vacated.
Court: Louisiana Court Of Appeal, Judge: Stone, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 55,605-CA, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Powell finds the lower court properly denied the father's motion to terminate the parents' shared parenting plan and name him sole residential guardian of their child. Although the mother ignored portions of the plan, denied the father parenting time on several occasions and often spoke to the child about the father in a derogatory manner, she attended therapy sessions and made genuine attempts to correct her behavior while maintaining a strong bond with the child, which made it in the child's best interest for the plan to remain in place. Affirmed.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Powell, Filed On: April 22, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-1519, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Miller finds the trial court properly granted the maternal grandmother's motion for permanent custody and determined the father had abandoned the child. Not only had he failed to visit the child while the mother was still alive, the mother had been granted a protection order against the father, while the grandmother also agreed to allow limited visitation, which prevented a full termination of his rights. Affirmed.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Miller, Filed On: April 22, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-1535, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Miller finds the trial court properly ordered the marital home be sold as part of the couple's divorce. The wife failed to produce evidence she was able to refinance the property to remain there with the children, while there is also no requirement for a court to allow a party to keep the marital home. Meanwhile, although the husband used retirement funds prior to the parties' divorce, he did so to support himself, not as a way to intentionally harm the wife; therefore, the court properly denied the wife's motion to find he committed financial misconduct. Affirmed.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Miller, Filed On: April 22, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-1533, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Lynch finds the lower court properly denied the wife's motion for a spousal support modification. The court used up-to-date income numbers, while evidence in the record indicated the current support amount allowed the wife and children to leave comfortably, with ample funds for personal expenses. Affirmed in part.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Lynch, Filed On: April 22, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-1526, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Hanson finds that the lower court improperly determined the mother's child-support obligation. The record does not establish how the lower court determined the mother's gross monthly income "for the purposes of calculating her child-support obligation." The parts of the judgment regarding child custody and visitation are affirmed, however. Reversed in part.
Court: Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, Judge: Hanson, Filed On: April 19, 2024, Case #: CL-2023-0338, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Wolfe finds that the trial court properly held the father in contempt, modified the custody judgment, and named the Philippines-based mother the domiciliary parent of the children. The record shows that the father has "done everything possible to prevent" the minor child from traveling to the Philippines despite the court's order. Also, the relevant factors were properly considered in finding that relocation of the child was in their best interest. Affirmed.
Court: Louisiana Court Of Appeal, Judge: Wolfe, Filed On: April 19, 2024, Case #: 2023CU0945, Categories: Contempt, evidence, family Law
J. Stevens reverses, in part, the trial court’s order of parental termination rights related to three children who were found living with their drug-using mother in a U-Haul van, then placed in the custody of the father, who is now incarcerated for child endangerment after the kids tested positive for methamphetamine abuse. The state’s family service plan was not filed into the trial court’s record or the appellate record and, therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support the mother's failure to comply with the plan. Furthermore, there is no evidence to support the state’s assertions the mother did not complete a drug abuse program or that she continued using drugs after completing such a program. Reversed in part.
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals, Judge: Stevens, Filed On: April 19, 2024, Case #: 06-23-97, Categories: evidence, family Law, Negligence
J. Baldwin finds the lower court properly denied the great-grandparents' motion for custody and granted family services' motion for permanent custody of the children. Although the great-grandparents were willing to care for the children, the parents' failure to make any progress in their case plans greatly diminished the probability the children would ever be returned to their custody and allowed for the termination of their parental rights. Affirmed.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Baldwin, Filed On: April 19, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-1505, Categories: Civil Procedure, evidence, family Law
J. Carlyle finds that the lower court properly granted the parties a divorce and named the father as the child's sole managing conservator. The mother argues on appeal that the lower court abused its discretion in appointing the father as the child's managing conservator, but this is incorrect based on the lower court's finding that "Mother had a history of family violence, which is supported by the record." Affirmed.
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals, Judge: Carlyle, Filed On: April 18, 2024, Case #: 05-23-00309-CV, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Pedersen finds that the lower court properly terminated the father's parental rights following a bench trial. Contrary to the father's argument on appeal, the evidence sufficiently supports the termination order. The family plan and the permanency order informed the father of "his obligations to retain his parental rights," and the evidence shows that he failed to fully comply with certain material provisions, particularly as to substance abuse. Affirmed.
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals, Judge: Pedersen, Filed On: April 18, 2024, Case #: 05-23-01056-CV, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Leland finds the lower court properly granted family services' motion for permanent custody of the child. Although the father has a strong bond with the child, he repeatedly failed to enter drug rehab or attend counseling services as part of his case plan, which prevented him from correcting the issues that led to the initial removal. Affirmed.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Leland, Filed On: April 18, 2024, Case #: 2024-Ohio-1488, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Suarez finds the lower court properly terminated the mother's parental rights. Although she loved and had a bond with her child, she refused to engage in mental health services or therapy to remedy issues that caused the initial removal and disrupted visits by being rude and demeaning to family services employees. Affirmed.
Court: Connecticut Court Of Appeals, Judge: Suarez, Filed On: April 18, 2024, Case #: AC46639, Categories: evidence, family Law
J. Zimmerer finds that the trial court properly terminated the mother's parental rights to her child based on sufficient evidence to support the findings as to endangerment and the child's best interest. Testimony from caseworkers indicated the mother failed to seek treatment for persistent substance abuse, refused to submit to drug testing, and did not complete any of the services in her plan. Affirmed.
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals, Judge: Zimmerer, Filed On: April 18, 2024, Case #: 14-24-00010-CV, Categories: evidence, family Law