Adoption of JMM v. New Beginnings of Tupelo, Inc.

796 So. 2d 975, 2001 WL 723191
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedJune 28, 2001
Docket1999-CA-01346-SCT
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 796 So. 2d 975 (Adoption of JMM v. New Beginnings of Tupelo, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Adoption of JMM v. New Beginnings of Tupelo, Inc., 796 So. 2d 975, 2001 WL 723191 (Mich. 2001).

Opinion

796 So.2d 975 (2001)

In the Matter of the ADOPTION OF J.M.M., A Male Child M.M., K.M. and C.M.
v.
NEW BEGINNINGS OF TUPELO, INC., John Doe and Jane Doe.

No. 1999-CA-01346-SCT.

Supreme Court of Mississippi.

June 28, 2001.
Rehearing Denied October 11, 2001.

*977 David Lee Robinson, Ashland, Attorney for Appellant.

Daniel J. Davis, Tupelo, C. Michael Malski, Attorneys for Appellee.

EN BANC.

SMITH, J., for the Court:

¶ 1. This case comes to this Court on appeal from the Chancery Court of Lee County which refused to set aside an adoption decree. Two prospective adoptive parents, John and Jane Doe, filed a Petition for Adoption on March 21, 1997. Attached to this petition by M.M., the natural mother, was a "Surrender of Parental Rights and Consent to Adoption." A final decree of adoption was entered by the chancellor on March 21, 1997. The natural mother and her parents, K.M. and C.M., appellants, filed a petition on December 30, 1997, praying that the final decree of adoption be vacated and set aside, and for the child to be returned to the natural mother. The judgment of the chancery court was entered on July 20, 1999, upholding the validity of the adoption and denying the mother's petition. Accordingly, a notice of appeal was filed by the appellants on August 12, 1999. We find that all adoption documents were properly executed in accordance with Miss.Code Ann. § 93-17-9 and that the appellants failed to meet their burden of proof. We also find that appellants failed to bring to the chancellor's attention his failure to rule on their motion for appointment of a guardian as litem (GAL), thus we apply the procedural bar. Notwithstanding the procedural bar, alternatively, we find no merit to this issue as it is not required by the applicable statute governing termination of parental rights, Miss.Code Ann. § 93-15-103(2). We, therefore, affirm the chancellor.

FACTS AND DISPOSITION BELOW

¶ 2. On February 24, 1997, the natural mother ("M.M."), then age 16, gave birth to a baby boy ("J.M.M.") at her home. She had successfully hidden her pregnancy from her parents until she gave birth in the bathroom at their home. M.M. was immediately taken to the hospital by her parents and remained hospitalized for two days.

¶ 3. M.M.'s father informed her that she would not be able to bring the baby into their home. He believed that she would face great difficulties trying to raise a child. According to M.M.'s father, M.M. was unwed, unemployed, young, and with limited education and means. However, M.M.'s father did discuss other options with M.M. There were two other relatives with whom M.M. could have lived had she decided to keep the child. M.M. testified that she was aware of these options.

*978 ¶ 4. New Beginnings of Tupelo, Inc. ("NBI"), an adoption agency licensed by the State of Mississippi, was contacted by M.M.'s family members shortly after J.M.M. was born. A representative from NBI visited the hospital twice on February 24, 1997, to provide M.M. and her family with information regarding the adoption process. On February 25, 1997, M.M. and J.M.M. were discharged from the hospital. M.M. testified that she walked across the parking lot of the hospital with her family and met Linda Rothenburger, an NBI representative. At this point, M.M. actually placed J.M.M. in the care of Rothenburger. On February 26, 1997, Rose Roberts, director of social services for NBI, traveled to M.M.'s home and again discussed adoption with M.M. and her family. Roberts left blank copies of forms that M.M. would have to sign to surrender her child for adoption. On Thursday, February 27, 1997, three days after J.M.M. was born, M.M. and her family went to NBI to sign the adoption papers and to meet the adopting family. Roberts presented M.M. with a document titled "Surrender of Parental Rights and Consent to Adoption." At this point, M.M. read it, initialed each page, initialed every line in one paragraph, and signed it. M.M. also signed an affidavit concerning an unknown father. M.M. indicated to Roberts that she had multiple partners and therefore did not know the identity of J.M.M.'s father.

¶ 5. M.M.'s signature appeared on all of the forms, and they were all notarized by Rothenburger. There is some dispute as to Rothenburger's whereabouts at the time that M.M. actually signed the papers. The chancery court ruled that Rothenburger was present and saw the documents being signed. The adoption was finalized on March 21, 1997. J.M.M. has resided with the adoptive family for more than four years now.

¶ 6. M.M. appeals to this Court alleging the following assignments of error:

I. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR ERRED IN FINDING THAT THE "SURRENDER OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND CONSENT TO ADOPTION" WAS VALID AND SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL CREDIBLE EVIDENCE?

II. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR ERRED IN FINDING THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF BOTH THE MINOR CHILD AND THE MINOR MOTHER WERE NOT VIOLATED?

DISCUSSION

¶ 7. Our Court has recognized that the standard of review and statutory basis for termination of parental rights is quite limited. "The chancellor's findings of fact are viewed under the manifest error/substantial credible evidence test." Vance v. Lincoln County Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 582 So.2d 414, 417 (Miss.1991) (citing Bryant v. Cameron, 473 So.2d 174, 179 (Miss.1985)). "This Court will not overturn a Chancellor's findings of fact when supported by substantial evidence unless an erroneous legal standard is applied or is manifestly wrong." Grafe v. Olds, 556 So.2d 690, 692 (Miss.1990) (citing Johnson v. Hinds County, 524 So.2d 947, 956 (Miss.1988)).

I.

¶ 8. The appellants argue that the chancellor committed manifest error when he found that the "Surrender of Parental Rights and Consent to Adoption" was a valid surrender of J.M.M. Our Court has held that surrenders executed in strict compliance with Miss.Code Ann. § 93-17-9 are irrevocable. C.C.I. v. Natural Parents, *979 398 So.2d 220, 226 (Miss.1981). After finding that the surrender complies with § 93-17-9, the biological parent(s) must either establish fraud, duress, or undue influence by clear and convincing evidence before an adoption decree will be revoked. Id. This two-part analysis will be addressed below.

A. WHETHER THE "SURRENDER OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND CONSENT TO ADOPTION" WAS EXECUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH § 93-17-9?

¶ 9. As worded at the time pertinent to this case, Miss.Code Ann. § 93-17-9 (Supp.1997) provided in relevant part:

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796 So. 2d 975, 2001 WL 723191, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/adoption-of-jmm-v-new-beginnings-of-tupelo-inc-miss-2001.