In Re CK

221 S.W.3d 467, 2007 WL 1341493
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 9, 2007
DocketWD 67474
StatusPublished

This text of 221 S.W.3d 467 (In Re CK) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re CK, 221 S.W.3d 467, 2007 WL 1341493 (Mo. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

221 S.W.3d 467 (2007)

In the Interest of C.K. and J.K., Jr.

No. WD 67474.

Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.

May 9, 2007.

*468 Marcos Antonio Barbosa, Kansas City, for Appellant.

Gerald McGonagle, Kansas City, Gary Lee Gardner, Office of Attorney General, Jefferson City; Anastacia Renae Adamson, Kansas City, for Respondent.

PAUL M. SPINDEN, Presiding Judge.

M.T. appeals the circuit court's judgment terminating her right to parent her children, C.K. and J.K., Jr.,[1] and granting *469 M.E.H.'s and D.H.'s petition to adopt the children. M.T. contends that the circuit court[2] did not make specific findings on each of the factors outlined in Section 211.447.4(2) and (3), RSMo 2000, in terminating her parental rights and did not make sufficient findings regarding the best interests of the children under Section 211.447.6. She also asserts that the circuit court erred by not ascertaining whether the Indian Child Welfare Act had been complied with and in relying solely on her past behavior to justify termination of her parental rights. We reverse the circuit court's judgment and remand.

The circuit court is required to make findings of fact concerning each of the factors specified in Section 211.447.4(2) or (3) or state why a given factor is not relevant before terminating a person's parental rights under these statutes.[3]In the Interest of J.M.N., 134 S.W.3d 58, 65 (Mo. App.2004); In the Interest of C.N.G, 89 S.W.3d 564, 567 (Mo.App.2002); In the Interest of Q.M.B., 85 S.W.3d 654, 658-59 (Mo.App.2002). To preserve the issue for our review, however, a party must challenge the circuit court's failure to make statutorily required findings in a motion to amend the judgment. Rule 78.07(c).

Rule 78.07(c) says, "In all cases, allegations of error relating to the form or language of the judgment, including the failure to make statutorily required findings, must be raised in a motion to amend the judgment in order to be preserved for appellate review." "The failure of the court to make [statutorily required] findings is error; however, the claimed error is not preserved unless a motion to alter or amend the judgment is filed which specifically challenges the failure to make statutorily mandated findings." In the Interest of Holland, 203 S.W.3d 295, 302 (Mo.App. 2006). M.T. does not assert, and the circuit court's docket sheet does not reflect, that M.T. filed a motion to amend the judgment. M.T. "was obligated to put the [circuit] court on notice that it failed to *470 make specific statutorily required findings. Absent such specificity, the error is not preserved for appeal." Id.

The same is true concerning M.T.'s contention that the circuit court did not make sufficient findings regarding the best interests of the children under Section 211.447.6. Rule 78.07(c) required M.T. to file a motion to amend the judgment, alleging that the circuit court's findings were insufficient to preserve this issue for our review.

M.T. also asserts that the circuit court erred by not ascertaining whether or not the proceedings complied with the Indian Child Welfare Act. In her answer to the petition to terminate her parental rights, M.T. asserted, "[I state] that some or all of the Petitioners' claims are limited or barred by the applicable provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act. . . . [I state] that this Court lacks subject matter and/or personal jurisdiction pursuant to applicable provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act." M.T. contends that the Indian Child Welfare Act required the circuit court to notify the children's Indian tribe by registered mail with return receipt requested of the pending process and of their right to intervene.

Indeed, 25 U.S.C.A. 1912(a) says:

In any involuntary proceeding in a State court, where the court knows or has reason to know that an Indian child is involved, the party seeking the foster care placement of, or termination of parental rights to, an Indian child shall notify the parent or Indian custodian and the Indian child's tribe by registered mail with return receipt requested, of the pending proceedings and of their right to intervention.

Moreover, in an adoption proceeding, Section 453.080.1(6), RSMo Supp.2006, requires the circuit court to conduct a hearing to determine whether or not it should finalize the adoption and to ascertain whether or not the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act have been satisfied. In the Matter of C.G.L., 28 S.W.3d 502, 505 (Mo.App.2000).

M.T., however, did not establish that the Indian Child Welfare Act is applicable to this case. The United States Supreme Court has recognized that the act's purpose is to avoid removing Native American children "from their cultural setting," thereby threatening "a long-term tribal survival" and the social and psychological well-being of the child. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield, 490 U.S. 30, 50, 109 S.Ct. 1597, 104 L.Ed.2d 29 (1989). This court concluded from Holyfield and other cases that the act "is not applicable where an Indian child is not being removed from an Indian cultural setting, where the natural parents have no substantive ties to a specific tribe, and where neither of the parents nor their families have resided or plan to reside within a tribal reservation." In the Matter of C.E.H., 837 S.W.2d 947, 952 (Mo.App. 1992) (citing In the Matter of the Adoption of Crews, 118 Wash.2d 561, 825 P.2d 305, 310 (1992)); see also In the Interest of T.C.T., 165 S.W.3d 529, 533 (Mo.App.2005), and In the Interest of D.C.C., 971 S.W.2d 843, 846 (Mo.App.1998). M.T. does not contend that this case satisfies these requisite facts. Indeed, in its judgment, the circuit court found that M.T. did not produce "documentary evidence to show that she is now or in the past was ever a registered member of an American Indian Tribe." Hence, M.T.'s contention is without merit.

M.T. also asserts that clear, cogent, and convincing evidence did not support the circuit court's determination to terminate her parental rights because the circuit court relied solely on her past behavior *471 to justify its determination. We agree that the circuit court erred in relying solely on M.T.'s past behavior to justify the termination.

In a termination proceeding, the circuit court, before considering the child's best interest, must determine whether or not the grounds for termination are supported by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence. Evidence supporting termination is clear, cogent, and convincing if, when weighed against all of the evidence, it instantly tilts the scales in favor of termination.

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Related

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield
490 U.S. 30 (Supreme Court, 1989)
In the Interest of D.C.C.
971 S.W.2d 843 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1998)
In the Matter of Ceh v. Lmw
837 S.W.2d 947 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1992)
In Re Adoption of Crews
825 P.2d 305 (Washington Supreme Court, 1992)
Lowe v. Bilyeu
28 S.W.3d 502 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2000)
Juvenile Officer v. P.S.L.
32 S.W.3d 804 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2000)
Juvenile Officer v. B.R.
39 S.W.3d 847 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2001)
In the Interest of P.C.
62 S.W.3d 600 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2001)
In the Interest of C.N.G.
89 S.W.3d 564 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2002)
In the Interest of M.D.R.
124 S.W.3d 469 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 2004)
In the Interest of K.A.W.
133 S.W.3d 1 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 2004)
In the Interest of J.M.N.
134 S.W.3d 58 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2004)
In the Interest of T.C.T.
165 S.W.3d 529 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2005)
In the Interest of H.F.G. v. E.G.
196 S.W.3d 45 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2005)
Holland v. Crow
203 S.W.3d 295 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2006)
In the Interest of C.W.
211 S.W.3d 93 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 2007)
In the Interest of C.K.
221 S.W.3d 467 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2007)

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Bluebook (online)
221 S.W.3d 467, 2007 WL 1341493, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-ck-moctapp-2007.