In the Interest of Atwood

Parks, J.:

Gerald and Susan Atwood, the parents of four-year-old Nicholas Wayne Atwood, are appealing a district court order wherein they were adjudged unfit parents and their parental rights permanently severed. Gerald and Susan were divorced prior to the district court hearing in this case and therefore appeal separately.

Recitation of the facts giving rise to the original petition is not required for disposition of these appeals.

We note that necessary prerequisites to the severance of parental rights are findings that the child is dependent and neglected and that the parents are unfit. To…