C.M.L. v. L.S.M.

CRAWLEY, Judge.

In 1985, C.M.M., now a 10-year-old girl, was born to C.M.L., who was then single. Less than two years later, when the mother moved out of state, the child came to live with L.S.M., who, in a paternity action, had been determined to be her father.

In June 1991, the father filed a petition, alleging that the child was dependent and seeking custody. In an ex parte order entered the same day, the family court declared the child dependent and awarded her custody to the father, pending further orders of the court. The court set September 3, 1991, as the date for a preliminary hearing…