S.S. v. State, Department of Children & Families

NORTHCUTT, Judge.

We reverse the final judgment terminating S.S.’s parental rights because she was not given accurate notice of the consequences of failing to personally appear at the advisory hearing.

On October 29, 1998, S.S. was served with a petition by the Department of Children and Families to terminate her parental rights to two children, along with a notice of an advisory hearing to be held November 13, 1998. The notice included the following statement:

FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE OR TO APPEAR AT THIS TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS ADVISORY HEARING CONSTITUTES CONSENT TO THE…