In re G.P.

Summary

The Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals affirmed the juvenile court’s order terminating the father’s parental rights and granting permanent custody of two minor children to the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services. The court held that clear and convincing evidence supported the findings that the children could not or should not be placed with either parent within a reasonable time and that permanent custody was in their best interests. The court overruled the father’s manifest-weight-of-the-evidence challenge.

Holdings

1. The juvenile court properly found under R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(a) that the children could not be placed with Father within a reasonable time or should not be placed with him because the applicable R.C. 2151.414(E) factors were supported by clear and convincing evidence.
2. The juvenile court properly determined that permanent custody to CCDCFS was in the children's best interests under R.C. 2151.414(D)(1).
3. The judgment terminating Father's parental rights and awarding permanent custody to CCDCFS was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the juvenile court's findings under R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(a) and R.C. 2151.414(E) established by clear and convincing evidence that the children could not be placed with Father within a reasonable time or should not be placed with him.
2. Whether permanent custody with CCDCFS was in the children's best interests under R.C. 2151.414(D)(1).
3. Whether the juvenile court's termination of Father's parental rights and award of permanent custody to CCDCFS was against the manifest weight of the evidence.

Disposition

affirmed