Legal Opinion
In re the Adoption of L.A.M.K., C.M.J. and J.A.J. v. B.G.R.
Missouri Court of Appeals
Decided July 5, 2016No. SD33912PublishedCited by 1 opinion
1Per curiam
We reverse a step-parent adoption judgment that terminated parental rights and remand for further proceedings. 1
Background
Child was born out of wedlock to Father and Mother in 2010. The parents later broke up and Father moved away, but paid child support.
In 2014, Father filed a Cedar County action to establish his paternity. Mother then filed a separate Cedar County action for step-parent adoption and to terminate Father’s parental rights..
All lawyers, including the appointed GAL, believed Father had timely filed and served his answer to Mother’s petition. In fact, although Father’s counsel…
2Cases cited5 opinions
- Cotleur v. DanzigerSupreme Court of Missouri · 1994
- Brueggemann v. ElbertMissouri Court of Appeals · 1997
- Weidner v. AndersonMissouri Court of Appeals · 2005
- Dattilo v. American Family InsuranceMissouri Court of Appeals · 1995
- T.T. v. BurgettMissouri Court of Appeals · 2012