Department of Human Services v. Z. E. W.

In these consolidated cases, father appeals orders and judgments by the juvenile court that asserted jurisdiction over father’s two children. We reverse and remand with instructions to terminate the wardships over the children.

In March 2014, the juvenile court asserted jurisdiction over the children based on allegations that mother, who had physical custody of the children in Oregon, had substance abuse and mental health issues that threatened the children’s welfare and that father, who lived in California, did not have legal custody of the children and had not taken steps to obtain it. In…