K.S., MOTHER OF J.R., D.R. AND B.-C.A., CHILDREN
v.
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Fla. 5th DCA | 2019-04-23
No. 18-3209
Strowbridge, J., Evander, C.J., Wallis, J., Harris, J.
271 So. 3d 1165 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fifth District (2019)

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Holding

A trial court's termination of parental rights is affirmed when the record supports findings of all necessary elements proven by clear and convincing evidence.


Headnotes

[1] A belated appeal of a termination of parental rights may be permitted when the delay resulted from ineffective assistance of counsel in failing to timely file the notice…

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Key Quotes

“Where a trial court has found that there is clear and convincing evidence supporting a termination of parental rights, such findings enjoy a presumption of correctness and will not be overturned unless clearly erroneous and lacking evidentiary support.”

Standard of review for termination of parental rights

Facts & Procedural History

K.S., the mother of three children, appealed a final judgment terminating her parental rights. The appeal was filed late but was permitted due to inef…

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Opinion of the Court
Mother Of

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA

FIFTH DISTRICT

NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO

FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND

DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED

K.S., MOTHER OF J.R., D.R. AND

B.-C.A., CHILDREN,

Appellant/Cross-Appellee,

v. Case No. 5D18-3209

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND

FAMILIES,

Appellee/Cross-Appellant.

________________________________/

Opinion filed April 23, 2019

Appeal from the Circuit Court for Osceola County, Patricia Strowbridge, Judge.

K.S., Brooksville, Appellant/Cross- Appellee, pro se.

Kelley Schaeffer, Appellate Counsel, Department of Children & Families, Children’s Legal Services, Bradenton, for Appellee/Cross-Appellant.

Thomasina F. Moore, Statewide Director of Appeals, and Sara Elizabeth Goldfarb, Senior Attorney, Appellate Division, Florida Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, Tallahassee, for Guardian ad Litem.

2

PER CURIAM.

The mother, K.S., has filed a belated appeal of a final judgment of termination of parental rights. See, e.g., In re E.H., 609 So. 2d 1289, 1290–91 (Fla. 1992) (holding that mother was entitled to belated appeal due to ineffective assistance of counsel in failing to timely file notice of appeal). Because the record supports the trial court’s finding that the Department of Children and Families proved, by clear and convincing evidence, all necessary elements for termination of parental rights, we affirm. See L.F. v. Dep’t of Child. & Fams., 888 So. 2d 147, 148 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004) (“Where a trial court has found that there is clear and convincing evidence supporting a termination of parental rights, such findings enjoy a presumption of correctness and will not be overturned unless clearly erroneous and lacking evidentiary support.”).

AFFIRMED.1

EVANDER, C.J., WALLIS and HARRIS, JJ., concur.

Footnotes
1 Given our disposition of the mother’s appeal, we find it unnecessary to address the issues raised on cross-appeal.

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