Teachem v. Terry

STEELE, Chief Justice:

A father appeals a Family Court judge’s termination of his parental rights. We reaffirm that intentional abandonment requires a finding that the parent had a settled purpose to forego all parental duties and relinquish all parental claims. We hold that the record supports the judge’s holding that the father abandoned his son and that termination is in the child’s best interests. Therefore we AFFIRM in part, REVERSE in part, and AFFIRM the trial court’s judgment.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Respondent-Appellant William Tea-chem1 (Father) and Petitioner-Appellee…