Rivers v. DeBoer

As the majority notes, this case hinges on one paragraph found in an August 29, 2011 Jefferson County Circuit Court default judgment of paternity. Paragraph 13 reads as follows:

Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-113, ALICIA D. MORRIS [it misidentifies the name of the biological mother; Morris is the maternal grandmother], the woman giving birth to the child(ren) of this action, has legal custody of the minor child(ren) until the child(ren) reaches the age of eighteen (18) years unless a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order placing the child(ren) in the custody of another.

Simply put,…