In Re ESS

131 S.W.3d 632, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 2346, 2004 WL 456509
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 11, 2004
Docket2-03-074-CV
StatusPublished

This text of 131 S.W.3d 632 (In Re ESS) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re ESS, 131 S.W.3d 632, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 2346, 2004 WL 456509 (Tex. Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

131 S.W.3d 632 (2004)

In the Interest of E.S.S.

No. 2-03-074-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, Fort Worth.

March 11, 2004.

*634 Beth Poulos, Arlington, TX, for Appellant.

Robert Hoover, Fort Worth, TX, Duke Hooten, Special Prosecuting Attorney, Austin, TX, Michael Broome, P.C. and Michael W. Broome, Hurst, TX, for Appellee.

Charla Moore, P.C. and Charla F. Moore, Arlington, TX, Attorney Ad Litem.

PANEL B: DAUPHINOT, HOLMAN, and McCOY, JJ.

OPINION

DIXON W. HOLMAN, Justice.

Appellant Gary Wayne Stanfield seeks reversal of the trial court's agreed order terminating his parental rights and granting adoption to Gary Wayne Smith. We reverse and remand.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Appellant and Appellee, parents of E.S.S., were divorced in 1995. In 1996, Appellee married Gary Wayne Smith and E.S.S. has lived with them since that time. Appellant is currently serving a life sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice—Institutional Division (TDCJ-ID) *635 for murder. In August 2000, Appellee and Mr. Smith filed a petition for the involuntary termination of Appellant's parental rights in conjunction with a request by Mr. Smith to adopt E.S.S.

On July 30, 2002, the trial court held a trial on the petition for termination of Appellant's parental rights. Prior to the trial's commencement, the parties announced that they had reached an agreement. According to the terms of the agreement, Appellant would voluntarily relinquish his parental rights to E.S.S. in exchange for having his mother and brother named possessory conservators with visitation rights. After Appellee's attorney dictated the settlement agreement and details of the visitation rights on the record, Appellant testified that he was relinquishing his rights to E.S.S. as follows:

THE COURT: Okay. Mr. Stanfield, I want you to understand exactly what we're doing today. I think you know the purpose of this hearing is to determine whether or not your parental rights of this child should be terminated forever.
Now, it's my understanding that you're currently serving a life sentence in the [TDCJ-ID] for murder; is that correct?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: You understand that even though you're under those circumstances at this time that you still have a right to have a trial in this matter, do you understand that?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Okay. Do you concur and agree that your parental rights to this child should be terminated forever?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: All right. And are you doing that freely and voluntarily?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

The trial court approved the agreement and ordered termination of Appellant's parental rights. Appellant thereafter did not sign an affidavit for voluntary relinquishment of parental rights.

On February 6, 2003, Appellee filed a motion for entry of an agreed order terminating Appellant's parental rights and granting adoption. Appellee's motion included a proposed agreed order, which not only included the terms of the agreement as stated on the record, but also an order granting adoption and the following findings:

The Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that GARY WAYNE STANFIELD has—

a. engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the child with persons who engaged in conduct that endangers the physical or emotional well-being of the child; and

b. knowingly engaged in criminal conduct that has resulted in his conviction of an offense and confinement or imprisonment and inability to care for the child for not less than two years from the date the petition was filed.

The Court also finds by clear and convincing evidence that termination of the parent-child relationship between GARY WAYNE STANFIELD and the child the subject of this suit is in the best interest of the child.

In response, Appellant did not sign the proposed agreed order and instead wrote a letter to the trial court seeking to revoke his consent to the agreement.

On February 28, 2003, a hearing was held on Appellee's motion for entry of the agreed order. Appellant claims that he again attempted to revoke his agreement to relinquish his parental rights and repudiate his agreement to the termination. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial *636 court overruled Appellant's attempted revocation and signed the proposed agreed order. In five issues, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in signing the agreed order.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

A parent's rights to "the companionship, care, custody, and management" of his or her children are constitutional interests "far more precious than any property right." Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 758-59, 102 S.Ct. 1388, 1397, 71 L.Ed.2d 599 (1982). In a termination case, the State seeks not just to limit parental rights but to end them permanently—to divest the parent and child of all legal rights, privileges, duties, and powers normally existing between them, except for the child's right to inherit. Tex.Fam. Code Ann. § 161.206(b) (Vernon Supp.2004); Holick v. Smith, 685 S.W.2d 18, 20 (Tex.1985). We strictly scrutinize termination proceedings and strictly construe involuntary termination statutes in favor of the parent. Holick, 685 S.W.2d at 20-21; In re D.T., 34 S.W.3d 625, 630 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2000, pet. denied) (op. on reh'g).

In proceedings to terminate the parent-child relationship brought under section 161.001 of the family code, the petitioner must establish one or more of the acts or omissions enumerated under subdivision (1) of the statute and must also prove that termination is in the best interest of the child. Tex.Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001 (Vernon 2002); Richardson v. Green, 677 S.W.2d 497, 499 (Tex.1984); Swate v. Swate, 72 S.W.3d 763, 766 (Tex.App.-Waco 2002, pet. denied). Both elements must be established; termination may not be based solely on the best interest of the child as determined by the trier of fact. Tex. Dep't of Human Servs. v. Boyd, 727 S.W.2d 531, 533 (Tex.1987).

Termination of parental rights is a drastic remedy and is of such weight and gravity that due process requires the petitioner to justify termination by "clear and convincing evidence." Tex.Fam. Code Ann. §§ 161.001, 161.206(a); In re G.M., 596 S.W.2d 846, 847 (Tex.1980). This intermediate standard falls between the preponderance standard of ordinary civil proceedings and the reasonable doubt standard of criminal proceedings. G.M., 596 S.W.2d at 847; D.T., 34 S.W.3d at 630.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Santosky v. Kramer
455 U.S. 745 (Supreme Court, 1982)
In the Interest of G. M.
596 S.W.2d 846 (Texas Supreme Court, 1980)
Holley v. Adams
544 S.W.2d 367 (Texas Supreme Court, 1976)
Holick v. Smith
685 S.W.2d 18 (Texas Supreme Court, 1985)
Padilla v. LaFrance
907 S.W.2d 454 (Texas Supreme Court, 1995)
Alcantar v. Oklahoma National Bank
47 S.W.3d 815 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2001)
In the Interest of S.D.H.
591 S.W.2d 637 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1979)
In the Interest of Caballero
53 S.W.3d 391 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2001)
Swate v. Swate
72 S.W.3d 763 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2002)
Texas Department of Human Services v. Boyd
727 S.W.2d 531 (Texas Supreme Court, 1987)
Williams v. Patton
821 S.W.2d 141 (Texas Supreme Court, 1992)
In the Interest of R.D.
955 S.W.2d 364 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1997)
Richardson v. Green
677 S.W.2d 497 (Texas Supreme Court, 1984)
in the Interest of B.M.R., a Minor Child
84 S.W.3d 814 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2002)
in the Interest of J.B.W. and K.G., Children
99 S.W.3d 218 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2003)
in the Interest of E.S.S.
131 S.W.3d 632 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2004)
In the Interest of C.L.C. and C.R.D., Minor Children
119 S.W.3d 382 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2003)
In the Interest of T. M.
33 S.W.3d 341 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2000)
In the Interest of D.T.
34 S.W.3d 625 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2000)
In the Interest of D.R.L.M.
84 S.W.3d 281 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2002)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
131 S.W.3d 632, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 2346, 2004 WL 456509, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-ess-texapp-2004.