South Carolina Department of Social Services v. Monceaux

Justice BURNETT:

This appeal raises the issue of whether the family court judge erred in a child custody case by issuing a permanency planning order without allowing the presentation of testimony and evidence at a hearing. We affirm in result.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Trae Steven Monceaux (Child) was born in 2001 and abandoned by his mother, who left him with a friend, Amelia Beth Morris (Custodian). The mother’s present whereabouts and the father’s identity are unknown. Custodian is not related by blood or marriage to Child. Custodian apparently filed an action at an unspecified time…