In re T.R.

491 S.W.3d 847, 2016 WL 1298157, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 3418
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 4, 2016
DocketNo. 04-15-00639-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 491 S.W.3d 847 (In re T.R.) 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 T.R., 491 S.W.3d 847, 2016 WL 1298157, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 3418 (Tex. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

OPINION

Patricia 0. Alvarez, Justice

Appellant A.M.C.2 appeals the trial court’s order terminating her parental rights to her child, T.R. A.M.C. raises two issues on appeal: (1) the trial court erred in failing to comply with the Indian Child Welfare Act; and (2) the evidence is legally and factually.insufficient to support the trial court’s findings that termination of A.M.C.’s parental rights is in T.R.’s best interest. We conclude that, based on a review of the evidence, the trial court did not err in failing to provide notice under the Indian Child Welfare Act and that the evidence is both legally and factually sufficient to support the best interest determination. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s order.

Factual and PROCEDURAL Background

Because the only child at issue in this appeal is T.R., we limit our discussion to the facts relating to T.R.

In February 14, 2012, following, two attempted suicides by A.M.C. while her minor children were present, and A.M.C.’s positive drug tests, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services was named temporary managing conservator of T.R. and his brother. The Department’s original service plan and goal was to return the children to A.M.C. The caseworker’s original progress report, filed on July 19, 2012, indicated that A.M.C. denied that either T.R. or his brother had American Indian status.

The case remained pending in different stages before the trial court for almost four years. During that time, A.M.C. participated, off and on, in different services offered by the Department. A.M.C.’s mental health issues and continued drug use were constant sources of concern for her caseworker and the trial court. On March 4, 2013, following a mediated settlement agreement, the trial court entered Final Orders appointing the Department as permanent managing conservator for both children and A.M.C. as possessory conservator. A.M.C. continued to deny American Indian Child status for both children. On February 26, 2014, T.R.’s brother aged out of foster care.

On January 14, 2015, for the first time since the children were removed in 2012, [850]*850and in' direct contradiction to all of the proceedings and status reports filed after T.R.’s removal, T.R.’s great-grandmother reported that T.R. had relatives that were full blooded Native Americans.

On March 3, 2015, the Department filed a Petition to Modify the trial court’s March 4, 2013 Final Orders seeking termination of A.M:C.’s parental rights. After several more hearings and trial settings, the matter was called to trial on July 14, 2015, and testimony’ was presented by the Department. The matter was reset for August 28, 2015, and additional testimony was heard by the trial court.

On September 24, 20Í5, the trial court signed a termination order concluding that termination of A.M.C.’s parental rights was ’ in T.R,’s ’ best interest and further found that the Department’s motion to terminate parental rights should be granted under Texas Family Code sections 161.001(b)(1)(E), (N), and (O). See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 161.001(b)(1)(E), (N), (O); (b)(2). This appeal ensued.

We first address AM.C.’s contention that the trial court failed to comply with the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Indian Child WelfaRE Act

The Indian Child Welfare Act of Í978 (ICWA), 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901-63 (2012), applies to an involuntary child custody proceeding pending in a state court when “the court knows or has reason-to know that an Indian child is involved” in a child custody proceeding. 25 U.S.C. § 1912(a); In re R.R. Jr., 294 S.W.3d 213, 217 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2009, no pet.); Doty-Jabbar v. Dall. Cty. Child Protective Servs., 19 S.W.3d 870, 874 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2000, pet. denied). The Act articulates a federal policy that, where possible, an Indian child should remain in the Indian community. Miss. Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield, 490 U.S. 30, 36-37, 109 S.Ct. 1597, 104 L.Ed.2d 29 (1989). The ICWA’s goal is to provide procedural and substantive standards for child custody proceeding; it includes a termination of parental rights action. 25 U.S.C, § 1903(l)(ii); Miss. Band of Choctaw Indians, 490 U.S. at 36, 109 S.Ct. 1597.

A. Standard of Review

The trial court’s application of the ICWA is reviewed de novo. See In re J.J.C., 302 S.W.3d 896, 902 (Tex.App.-Waco 2009, order); In re W.D.H., 43 S.W.3d 30, 33 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. denied).

B. Arguments of the Parties

A.M.C. contends the record is void of any evidence of notice to either one of the tribes or the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as required by 25 C.F.R. § 23.11. The State counters that no evidence was ever presented that T.R. was an Indian child within the meaning of the ICWA.

C. Notice Requirements under the Indian Child Welfare Act

Under the ICWÁ, an Indian tribe is entitled to notice of a custody proceeding involving an Indian child. See 25 U.S.C. § 1912(a). It is the duty of the trial court and the Department to send notice in any involuntary proceeding “where the court knows or has reason to know that an Indian child is involved.” 25 C.F.R. § 23.11(a). A violation of the ICWA notice provisions may be cause for invalidation of the termination proceedings at some later, distant point in time. See 25 U.S.C. § 1914 (noting that Indian child’s tribe may petition any court of competent jurisdiction to invalidate such action); In re W.D.H., 43 S.W.3d at 38-39 (recognizing a parent possesses standing under ICWA to challenge adequacy of notice even if tribe declined to join suit).

[851]*851Because the termination proceeding here will likely result ultimately in T.R.’s adoption by his current placement, strict compliance with the notice provisions of the ICWA is required. See In re 302 S.W.3d at 902 (remanding because strict compliance to the notice requirement was not met); In re R.R. Jr., 294 S.W.3d 213, 224-25 (Tex.App.-Fort Worth 2009, no pet.) (stating substantial compliance with notice requirement insufficient).

D. Analysis

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491 S.W.3d 847, 2016 WL 1298157, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 3418, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-tr-texapp-2016.