In re T.W.

This was an appeal by Petitioner from an order of the circuit court accepting the voluntary relinquishment of parental rights by Father to his two eldest children and dismissing his two youngest children from the case. Petitioner was the mother of the two youngest children, who lived in Maryland. The Supreme Court reversed the lower court's order, holding that the trial court abused its discretion by (1) accepting Father's voluntary relinquishment of parental rights to two of his children and dismissing two other children without holding a full evidentiary hearing to address the specific allegations of abuse and neglect; (2) failing to grant the motion for the appointment of a separate guardian ad litem for Father's children residing in Maryland; (3) refusing to conduct an in camera hearing with the two oldest children so the children could inform the court about the specific conduct of their father as well as their wishes regarding the termination of their father's parental rights; and (4) dismissing the two children residing in Maryland and failing to hold a hearing regarding the abuse and neglect issues involving those children. Remanded. View "In re T.W." on Justia Law