L.M. v. Shelby County Department of Human Resources

L.M. (“the father”) and J.K. (“the mother”) separately appeal from a judgment entered by the Shelby Juvenile Court (“the juvenile court”) that terminated their parental rights to their three children (“the children”).1 This court, ex mero motu, consolidated the appeals. For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we reverse the juvenile court’s judgment.

Background and Procedural History

The record reveals that the children were first removed from the custody of the mother and the father, who lived together but were not married, in December 2007 when the mother gave birth to the youngest child…