Skip to Main Content
Blogs
BlogsPublications | November 2, 2021
1 minute read

COA Opinion: Children’s placement with relatives is an important factor in determining whether to terminate parental rights

In Olive v. Metts, a mother appealed the trial court's decision to terminate her parental rights to her five children. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's determination that there were grounds for terminating the parental rights to all five children due to, among other things, the mother's lengthy struggle with anger management and her children's adaptation of her behaviors. It also affirmed the trial court's ruling that termination was in the best interest of the three oldest children. However, the Court held that each child's best interest should be examined individually, and that the trial court improperly ignored the fact that the youngest two children were currently living with relatives. The Court noted that placement with relatives weighs heavily against termination, and remanded the case for further proceedings regarding the youngest two children's best interest in light of their current placement with relatives.