Demetrius L. v. Joshlynn F./d.L.

Vice Chief Justice PELANDER,

opinion of the Court.

¶ 1 We hold that in a private proceeding to sever parental rights, just as in state-initiated proceedings, a juvenile court may conclude that a proposed adoption benefits the child and supports a finding that severance is in the child’s best interests.

I

¶ 2 Joshlynn F. (“Mother”) filed this action to terminate the parental rights of the biological father, Demetrius L. (“Father”), to their now 9-year old child, D.L. We view the facts, which here are largely undisputed, in a light most favorable to sustaining the juvenile court’s findings. In re…