H.E.H. v. K.L.C.

H.E.H. (“the father”) and K.L.C. (“the mother”) are the parents of M.E.B.H., a seven-year-old boy. The parties, who were never married, separated after the child’s birth. Subsequently, the father was convicted of drug-related charges and sentenced to a 20-year split sentence, which required him to serve 5 years in prison. The mother married L.C.

In November 2005, the mother filed in the Etowah Juvenile Court a petition seeking to terminate the father’s parental rights. On March 29, 2006, the juvenile court entered a judgment terminating the father’s parental rights. On April 5, 2006, the…