IN RE STEELE M
Syllabus
Appellee filed a petition in juvenile court seeking to terminate a father's parental rights. After a bench trial, the trial court granted the petition and entered an order terminating the father's parental rights based on the grounds of (1) abandonment by failure to support, (2) abandonment by failure to visit, (3) failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody and financial responsibility, and (4) failure by a putative father to timely file a petition to establish paternity. The trial court also determined termination of the father's parental rights was in the child's best interest. We affirm the grounds for termination. However, we conclude that the trial court failed to make sufficient findings of fact regarding its best interest analysis. Accordingly, we vacate the trial court's decision that termination of the father's parental rights was in the best interest of the child and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Opinion Excerpt
10/06/2025 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE AT KNOXVILLE July 16, 2025 Session1 IN RE STEELE M.2 Appeal from the Chancery Court for Hamblen County No. 23-CV-298 Douglas T. Jenkins, Chancellor