ÿWPCãB ïû˜ÈzßGÚ—¡eö¾¼ (ê$h-‹»’Œ”†§ã±¼tGÚ—{ž"ºÊÜJ­š3@0˜+öðS²¹ ,ew‘Tfð%`ÂG’±RªŠu¦µœ#ö1cÐ ÒáËÊ÷Ú¹0þùqX³ÇšûßMw´†HSUJ|õ¸eÈÕv¬òt,[5agh˜óʪä²uëpBëîyŒÂÛµÖÿ? 5NŠ{óe —,}Ò -ú›soWÍ£ø€i>Ißð(!Žs¾°ˆU˜Ã)át¼¡fÊ® æÚš“j[/ ç4øèøMNÆt~^áüÁn•dFÎúq€Ÿ"°ÙÃW.@Ôÿ¾Ð¿©áFÛéV¼rL{ßBÓ¤O lK"1mŸ®3|-Ç›ûÝ…v(põ²×*6·ÓqŒ߯þ)¡çô°  ò‡iÉŸ%˜‰V’âu óÓ½é«T}4dn‡h&¨±àapàÚ=e¾ìÕSÔ%ÛƼþÞìZ{=ÀPƒ}üã;QŒ“¤V fͯÊÚ=bz¡R¨`’·½B*T¬£åTùâ”Þ^£êÌŒ P¢ø? -…¢ÓÇ 9LvÝHÊBpv2‡RwmØ…äË罡Ýðe‚W\jßõTáóhhwÅÈb#É\ %% ^ + 0§7 U%NÞ w, 40 zD Ò¾  Ÿ m¡ ‰¸ ÆAÆÆÍÆ“ÞYN7 0 D9í}Ejüll¹h!:":" 0U<# 0ã‘# 0Åt$ 0Â9% B-û% 0¿(& 0¹ç& 0³ ' 0­S( 0§)2§) 0¡Ù- 0Åz. 0Ñ?/ 0³0 0­Ã0 0§p1b2 0¡2 0›À2 0•[3 0ð3 0Â}4 0Î?5 0° 6 0ª½6 0¤g7 0ž 8 0˜©8 0’A9A9 0ŠÓ9U>]:]:]:æ›:›:›:›:›:›:›:›:›:›:›:›:›:›:›:›:›:›: 0 ==== B‹>‹> 0è> D5k? D- ? 0KÍ?Í? AS@Æk@ 0Ã1A 0DôA A«8B˜\\ib01s01\clerk1nasÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»·©†1 (ž“$¡¡Ô€XX»»ÔÑ€..ÑÑ8€R»»d»»d8ÑÑ ýý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular„‚–0ê:i¢×+00 ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Ý ƒR #$ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôûYòXX=ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(1),€which€applies€only€to€a€childððs€parent€or€guardian,€allows€for€terminationÐ À Ðof€parental€rights€on€the€basis€of€ð ðabandonmentðð€as€defined€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102€(Supp.€2003).€€Tenn.€CodeÐ „Ä ÐAnn.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9),€which€applies€to€anyone€who€is€not€the€childððs€legal€parent€or€guardian,€allows€for€terminationÐ Hˆ Ðof€parental€rights€on€several€ð ðadditional€grounds.ððLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 ÔÝ ƒR #$ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôûYòXX=ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAct€of€May€26,€1995,€ch.€532,€1995€Tenn.€Pub.€Acts€952.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ãÝ ƒR #$ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôûYòXX=ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€did€not€address€the€constitutionality€of€the€amendment€allowing€for€theÐ À Ðtermination€of€the€parental€rights€of€legal€parents€on€the€basis€of€the€additional€grounds€contained€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð „Ä Ððð€36„1„113(g)(9)(A).€€òòIn€re€D.A.H.óó,€142€S.W.3d€at€274„75. òÝ ƒR #$ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôûYòXX=ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔJ.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€were€paying€for€Ô_ÔK.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€lawyer. ¯Ý ƒR #$ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôûYòXX=ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAct€of€May€15,€2003,€ch.€231,€ðð€10,€2003€Tenn.€Pub.€Acts€392,€393.€€As€amended,€the€statute€currently€reads,Ð À Ðin€part:Ð „Ä ÐÌà8  àThe€parental€rights€of€any€person€who,€òòat€the€time€of€the€filing€of€a€petition€to€terminate€the€parentalÐ  L Ðrights€of€such€person€or,€if€no€such€petition€is€filed,€at€the€time€of€the€filing€of€a€petition€to€adopt€aÐ Ð Ðchildóó,€is€not€the€legal€parent€or€guardian€of€such€child€or€who€is€described€in€ðð€36„€1„117(b)€or€(c)€mayÐ ”Ô Ðalso€be€terminated€based€upon€any€one€(1)€or€more€of€the€following€additional€grounds€.€.€.€.€ÐX˜Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(emphasis€added).€Ð \Ð Ð  ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9)(A). Ý ƒR #$ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôûYòXX=ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€record€suggests€two€additional€grounds€for€concluding€that€J.M.S.€was€a€ð ðlegal€parentðð€by€the€time€the€trialÐ À Ðcourt€took€up€the€termination€petition.€€First,€a€ð ðlegal€parentðð€is€a€person€who€has€been€ð ðadjudicated€to€be€the€legal€fatherÐ „Ä Ðof€the€child€by€any€court€or€administrative€body€of€this€state.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(28)(D).€€The€statute€doesÐ Hˆ Ðnot€require€that€this€ð ðadjudicationðð€take€the€form€of€a€written,€final€order.€€The€trial€courtððs€finding€announced€in€openÐ  L Ðcourt€on€March€4,€2003€that€J.M.S.€was€S.M.F.ððs€biological€father€constituted€an€adjudication€establishing€J.M.S.€asÐ Ð ÐS.M.F.ððs€legal€parent.€€Second,€a€legal€parent€is€also€a€ð ðman€.€.€.€who€has€signed,€pursuant€to€ðððð€24„7„113,€68„3„203(g),Ð ”Ô Ð68„3„302€and€68„3„305(b),€an€unrevoked€and€sworn€acknowledgment€of€paternity€under€the€provisions€of€Tennessee€law,Ð X˜ Ðòòor€who€has€signed€such€a€sworn€acknowledgment€pursuant€to€the€law€of€any€other€stateóó,€territory,€or€foreign€country.ðð€Ð  \ ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(28)(D)€(emphasis€added).€€The€form€J.M.S.€filed€with€the€Ohio€Putative€Father€RegistryÐ à  Ðon€November€28,€2001€appears€to€meet€these€requirements.€€The€form€is€notarized,€and€in€it,€J.M.S.€acknowledged€thatÐ ¤ ä  Ðhe€was€the€father€of€the€baby.€€There€is€no€evidence€in€the€record€that€he€ever€attempted€to€revoke€this€acknowledgment.€Ð h ¨  ÐThus,€although€this€theory€was€not€briefed€by€the€parties,€J.M.S.€may€have€been€a€ð ðlegal€parentðð€for€purposes€of€theÐ , l  Ðtermination€of€parental€rights€statutes€as€early€as€November€28,€2001,€the€day€before€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€filed€their€petitionÐ ð 0  Ðto€terminate€his€parental€rights. øÝ ƒR #$ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôûYòXX=ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔL.B.B.€has€not€sought€to€appeal€the€trial€courtððs€order€terminating€his€parental€rights.*+ ÿÿ(_26Ô2ÔÔ3  Ôà..à*G+G ÿÿ(_25Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó*8+8 ÿÿ(_24Ó  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÓ  Ó(š2Ÿ±$©©Ý ƒž“!ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÑ€.ÑÑ8€^»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý)Hairline d*5+5 ÿÿ(_23Ó ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÓ ` Ó*2+2 ÿÿ(_22Ó ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÓ ¸ Ó*/+/ ÿÿ(_21Ó  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÓ  Ó*,+, ÿÿ(_20Ó h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÓ h Ó*)+) ÿÿ(_19Ó À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓppÈ xÐ ÓÓ À Ó Corlew P.J.BeasleyKierstenPlattsiGarrettW]ere a]sb]oth t]heIn Inunrevokedadjudicat[ionDemarrC.D.B.A.D.A.C.W.W.Z.J.S.L.S.W.Corcino G.T.A.E.T.MazzeoEarhartODanielBechtoldB.S.R.TeaschenkoC.C.T.SerrePanterS.A.B.G.P.B.BatemanFutchLeitchtriers Mgmt S.W.AbsarK.L.C. CasaffirmanceSundquistCihlarD.L.B.M.J.B.A.M.T.J.J.C.K.M.S.L.B.B.protectableJ.A.P.C.L.P.K.M.F.S.M.F.J.M.S.*&+& ÿÿ(_18Ó  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÓ  Ó*AA ÿÿ(_17Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ  Ó*GG ÿÿ(_16Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó*88 ÿÿ(_15Ó  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÓ  Ó*55 ÿÿ(_14Ó ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÓ ` Ó*22 ÿÿ(_13Ó ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÓ ¸ Ó- ù-*// ÿÿ(_12Ó  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÓ  Ó*,, ÿÿ(_11Ó h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó pÈ xÐ ÓÓ h Ó*)) ÿÿ(_10Ó À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€ÓppÈ xÐ ÓÓ À Ó(&& ÿÿ&_9Ó  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€ÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÓ  Ó(AA ÿÿ&_8Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ  Ó(GG ÿÿ&_7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó(88 ÿÿ&_6Ó  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÓ  Ó(55 ÿÿ&_5Ó ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÓ ` Ó(22 ÿÿ&_4Ó ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÓ ¸ Ó(// ÿÿ&_3Ó  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÓ  Ó(,, ÿÿ&_2Ó h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÓ h Ó()) ÿÿ&_1Ó À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓppÈ xÐ ÓÓ À Ó&&& ÿÿ$_Ó  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÓ  Óô\  `&Times New Roman ÜÝ ƒR #$ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôûYòXX=ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Court€of€Appeals€may€affirm€a€judgment€on€different€grounds€than€those€relied€on€by€the€trial€court€whenÐ À Ðthe€trial€court€reached€the€correct€result.€€òòContinental€Cas.€Co.€v.€Smithóó,€720€S.W.2d€48,€50€(Tenn.€1986);€òòFirst€Am.€TrustÐ „Ä ÐCo.€v.€Franklin„Murray€Dev.€Co.óó,€59€S.W.3d€135,€142€n.10€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001);€òòArnold€v.€City€of€Chattanoogaóó,€19Ð Hˆ ÐS.W.3d€779,€789€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999);€òòAllen€v.€National€Bank€of€Newportóó,€839€S.W.2d€763,€765€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð  L Ð1992).€€òòóó(›G2 #$¤¤Ý ƒž“!ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÑ€.ÑÑ8€^»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôûYòXX=Ô d(›3í´$££Ý ƒž“!ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÑ€.ÑÑ8€^»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(›3í´$¢¢Ý ƒž“!ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÑ€.ÑÑ8€^»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒž“!ÝÔ€X=X»»ÔÑ€.ÑÑ8€^»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑÀ°ÑÑH°ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÔ‡î[DîXX=ÔÑ8€=XXdì»»d8ÑIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÐ À ÐAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†X=Xîî[Dê#ÔÐ æ& ÐÔ‡¼^»XX=ÔAugust€6,€2004€SessionÔ#†X=X»¼^¾#ÔÐ  L ÐÌÔ‡¼^»XX=Ôò òòòIn€re€óóADOPTION€OF€S.M.F.Ð  J ÐÌÔ#†X=X»¼^,#ÔAppeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Rutherford€CountyÐ 2 r ÐNo.€01„3634AD€€€€€Robert€E.€Corlew,€III,€Chancelloró óÐ  ^ ÐÌÓÞÓßA€V) °°` d€÷E<õ ` AßÐ ö 6  ÐÌÓ  Óò òNo.€M2004„00876„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R9„PTó 󀄀ò òFiled€December€6,€Ô_Ô2004ó óÔ_ÔÐ ñ 1  ÐÓ¡ÓÌßA€V) °°` dE<Ì` AßÐ Í  ÐÌThis€appeal€involves€the€parental€relationship€between€a€three„year„old€child€and€her€biologicalÐ È  Ðfather.€€Shortly€after€the€childððs€birth€in€Ohio,€her€mother€placed€her€for€adoption€with€relativesÐ ´ô  Ðresiding€in€Tennessee.€€These€relatives€filed€a€petition€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€Rutherford€CountyÐ  à Ðseeking€to€terminate€the€biological€fatherððs€parental€rights€and€to€adopt€the€child.€€The€biologicalÐ ŒÌ Ðfather€thereafter€filed€a€petition€to€establish€parentage.€€Following€a€bench€trial,€the€trial€courtÐ x¸ Ðestablished€the€childððs€parentage€and€determined€that€the€biological€father€had€not€abandoned€theÐ d¤ Ðchild.€€Accordingly,€the€trial€court€denied€the€adoptive€parentsðð€petition€to€terminate€the€biologicalÐ P Ðfatherððs€parental€rights€and€to€adopt€the€child.€€Because€it€had€reserved€ruling€on€the€custody€andÐ <| Ðvisitation€arrangements,€the€trial€court€granted€the€adoptive€parentððs€application€for€an€interlocutoryÐ (h Ðappeal€pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€9.€€We€concur€that€an€interlocutory€appeal€is€warranted€in€thisÐ T Ðcase.€€We€also€concur€with€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€the€adoptive€parents€failed€to€prove€byÐ @ Ðclear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€biological€father€abandoned€his€daughter.Ð ì, ÐÌÓ  Óò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€9€Interlocutory€Appeal;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmedó óÐ Ä ÐÓQ ÓÌòòWilliam€C.€Koch,€Jr.,óó€P.J.,€M.S.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòòòóóWilliam€B.€Cainóó€andÐ œÜ ÐòòFrank€G.€Clement,€Jr.,€JJ.òòóóóó,€joined.Ð ˆÈ ÐÌDaryl€M.€South€and€Gary€D.€Beasley,€Murfreesboro,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellants,€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€Ð `! ! ÐÌDinah€J.€Michael,€Murfreesboro,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€J.M.S.Ð 8#x# ÐÌò òÓ  ÓOPINIONó óÐ %P!% ÐÓ| ÓÌà@¬¬)ìàò òI.ó óˆÐ è&(#' ÐÌà  àThe€biological€mother€in€this€case,€K.M.F.,€lives€in€Versailles,€Ohio,€a€small€town€ofÐ À(%) Ðapproximately€2,000€people.€€At€all€times€relevant€to€this€case,€she€was€married€to€L.B.B.,€and€sheÐ ¬)ì%* Ðand€L.B.B.€had€one€child€together.€€K.M.F.€and€L.B.B.€parted€ways€in€1998€but€did€not€divorce.€Ð ˜*Ø&+ ÐK.M.F.€engaged€in€a€sexual€relationship€with€J.M.S.€from€January€to€April€2001€and,€both€beforeÐ „+Ä', Ðand€after€this€time,€had€sexual€liaisons€with€other€men.Ð p,°(- ÐÌà  àK.M.F.€began€gaining€weight€during€the€summer€of€2001,€so€much€so€that€there€were€rumorsÐ H.ˆ*/ Ðaround€town€that€she€was€pregnant.€€She€did€not€believe€that€she€could€be€pregnant€because€she€wasÐ 4/t+0ý° Ðtaking€birth€control€pills.€€When€several€of€her€friends€broached€the€topic€with€her,€she€adamantlyÐ À Ðdenied€any€suggestion€that€she€was€pregnant.€€Finally,€at€the€urging€of€her€grandmother,€K.M.F.Ð ¬ì Ðscheduled€an€appointment€with€a€physician€to€determine€the€cause€of€her€unexpected€weight€gain.€Ð ˜Ø ÐOn€August€17€or€18€of€2001,€the€physician€informed€K.M.F.€that€she€was,€indeed,€pregnant.Ð „Ä ÐÌà  àK.M.F.€believed€that€J.M.S.€was€the€childððs€father.€€A€week€or€so€after€learning€that€she€wasÐ \œ Ðpregnant,€K.M.F.€telephoned€J.M.S.€at€his€place€of€employment€to€arrange€a€face„to„face€meetingÐ H ˆ Ðto€share€the€news€of€her€pregnancy€with€him.€€On€both€occasions,€J.M.S.€told€K.M.F.€that€he€wasÐ 4 t Ðworking€long€hours€and€that€he€would€come€by€to€see€her€when€he€got€a€chance.€€On€September€4,Ð  ` Ð2001,€K.M.F.€wrote€J.M.S.€a€letter€informing€him€that€she€was€pregnant€and€that€she€believed€thatÐ  L  Ðhe€was€the€father€of€the€child.€€In€the€letter,€K.M.F.€advised€J.M.S.€as€follows:€€ð ðIf€you€want€a€sayÐ ø 8  Ðin€what€happens€then€you€need€to€let€it€be€known.€€.€.€.€If€you€want€to€get€a€hold€of€með!ðyou€knowÐ ä $  Ð[my]€phone€number.ðð€€K.M.F.€did€not€mention€that€she€was€approximately€seven€months€pregnantÐ Ð  Ðat€the€time.€€Ð ¼ü  ÐÌà  àJ.M.S.€was€unsure€whether€he€was€the€childððs€father€because€it€had€been€several€months€sinceÐ ”Ô  Ðhis€last€sexual€encounter€with€K.M.F.€and€because€he€was€aware€that€K.M.F.€had€dated€other€menÐ €À Ðboth€before€and€after€their€liaison.€€He€did€not€want€to€contact€her€immediately€because€he€was€angryÐ l¬ Ðwith€her€and€was€afraid€of€provoking€a€confrontation.€€One€of€the€things€that€upset€him€was€Ô_ÔK.M.F.Ô_ÔððsÐ X˜ Ðheavy€drinking€during€the€summer€and€the€possible€effects€it€might€have€on€the€child.€€As€a€result,Ð D„ Ðneither€J.M.S.€nor€any€of€his€family€members€contacted€K.M.F.€for€approximately€three€weeks.Ð 0p ÐÌà  àWhen€J.M.S.€did€not€respond€to€her€letter€immediately,€K.M.F.€decided€that€she€would€beÐ H Ðrequired€to€make€all€the€decisions€regarding€her€pregnancy€without€J.M.S.€€She€and€her€grandmotherÐ ô4 Ðdiscussed€placing€the€child€for€adoption,€and€her€grandmother€told€her€that€relatives€living€inÐ à  ÐTennessee,€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.,€had€been€trying€to€adopt€a€child€for€several€years.€€After€Ô_ÔK.M.F.Ô_ÔððsÐ Ì  Ðgrandmother€sent€word€to€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€that€K.M.F.€was€considering€placing€her€child€forÐ ¸ø Ðadoption,€C.L.P.€telephoned€K.M.F.€€In€October€2001,€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€contacted€a€TennesseeÐ ¤ä Ðadoption€agency€and€hired€a€Tennessee€lawyer€to€assist€with€the€adoption.€€A€few€days€later,€theyÐ Ð Ðalso€hired€a€lawyer€in€Ohio.€€C.L.P.€asked€K.M.F.€to€make€sure€that€J.M.S.€would€agree€to€theÐ |¼ Ðadoption.€€However,€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€made€no€effort€to€contact€J.M.S.€themselves.Ð h¨ ÐÌà  àIn€the€meantime,€J.M.S.€told€his€family€and€friends€that€he€had€decided€to€parent€Ô_ÔK.M.F.Ô_ÔððsÐ @!€  Ðchild€if€he€turned€out€to€be€the€father.€€Because€he€and€K.M.F.€were€Caucasian€and€because€Ô_ÔK.M.F.Ô_ÔððsÐ ,"l! Ðhusband€and€many€of€the€men€she€dated€were€African„American,€J.M.S.€believed€that€he€would€haveÐ #X" Ða€better€idea€whether€he€was€the€childððs€father€after€the€child€was€born.€€Accordingly,€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_ÔððsÐ $D # Ðmother€and€others€informed€K.M.F.€that€J.M.S.€wanted€to€be€notified€when€the€child€was€born€andÐ ð$0!$ Ðthat€he€was€interested€in€obtaining€genetic€testing€to€confirm€that€the€child€was€his.€€K.M.F.€agreedÐ Ü%"% Ðto€notify€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€mother€once€the€child€was€born.€€She€did€not,€however,€inform€J.M.S.€or€hisÐ È&#& Ðmother€of€the€childððs€expected€due€date,€and€she€did€not€tell€them€of€her€plans€to€place€the€baby€forÐ ´'ô#' Ðadoption€immediately€after€birth.Ð  (à$( ÐÌà  àK.M.F.€€gave€birth€to€S.M.F.€on€Friday,€November€2,€2001.€€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.,€the€adoptiveÐ x*¸&* Ðparents,€were€at€the€hospital€when€K.M.F.€gave€birth.€€Neither€they€nor€K.M.F.€nor€any€other€memberÐ d+¤'+ Ðof€her€family€notified€J.M.S.€that€the€baby€had€been€born.€€J.M.S.€did€not€learn€of€the€childððs€birthÐ P,(, Ðuntil€the€evening€of€Sunday,€November€4,€2001,€when€a€third€party€told€him€that€the€child€had€beenÐ <-|)- Ðborn.€€By€that€time,€K.M.F.€and€the€baby€had€been€released€from€the€hospital,€and€K.M.F.€hadÐ À Ðalready€surrendered€physical€custody€of€the€baby€to€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.Ð ¬ì ÐÌà  àOn€Monday,€November€5,€2001,€J.M.S.€requested€an€agency€in€Ohio€to€conduct€geneticÐ „Ä Ðtesting€to€determine€the€parentage€of€S.M.F.€€That€afternoon,€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€mother€informed€K.M.F.€thatÐ p° ÐJ.M.S.€had€filed€the€paperwork€necessary€to€obtain€a€court„ordered€genetic€test€and€that€she€wouldÐ \œ Ðbe€receiving€a€notice€in€the€near€future€requiring€her€to€bring€the€child€in€for€genetic€testing.€€DuringÐ H ˆ Ðthat€conversation,€K.M.F.€informed€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€mother€that€she€had€already€surrendered€physicalÐ 4 t Ðcustody€of€the€child€to€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€and€that€she€intended€to€permit€them€to€adopt€S.M.F.€€PriorÐ  ` Ðto€this€conversation,€neither€J.M.S.€nor€any€member€of€his€family€knew€or€suspected€that€K.M.F.€wasÐ  L  Ðplanning€to€place€the€child€for€adoption.€€Ð ø 8  ÐÌà  àK.M.F.€immediately€informed€her€lawyerÔ_Ô׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€that€J.M.S.€had€requested€genetic€testing.€€OnÐ Ð  ÐNovember€6,€2001,€Ô_ÔK.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€lawyer€informed€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€of€the€situation€and€advised€themÐ ¼ü  Ðto€leave€with€the€baby€as€quickly€as€possible.€€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€left€Versailles€with€the€baby€andÐ ¨è  Ðstayed€in€various€hotels€in€Ohio€until€K.M.F.€legally€surrendered€her€parental€rights€to€them.€€OnÐ ”Ô  ÐNovember€9,€2001,€K.M.F.€surrendered€her€parental€rights€to€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€in€Dayton,€Ohio,€andÐ €À ÐJ.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€immediately€left€with€the€baby€for€their€home€in€Murfreesboro,€Tennessee.Ð l¬ Ðà  àÌà  àBefore€leaving€Ohio,€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€signed€a€ð ðStatement€of€Understanding€of€Legal€RiskÐ D„ Ð[of]€Adoptive€Placement€and€Statement€of€Where€Adoption€Will€Be€Finalized€and€WhereÐ 0p ÐTermination€of€Rights€of€Legal€and€Birth€Father€Will€Take€Place€and€by€Whom.ðð€€In€it,€theyÐ \ Ðacknowledged€that€they€had€accepted€physical€custody€and€legal€surrender€of€the€baby€from€theÐ H Ðmother€only,€and€that€a€ð ðlegal€father€and€a€birth€father€are€involved€in€this€case,€and€neither€the€legalÐ ô4 Ðfatherððs€nor€the€birth€fatherððs€rights€have€yet€been€terminated€or€otherwise€addressed.ðð€€J.A.P.€andÐ à  ÐC.L.P.€also€acknowledged€the€following:Ð Ì  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àWe€understand€that€our€physical€custody€of€[S.M.F.]€and€our€plan€toÐ ¤ä Ðadopt€said€child€is€at€risk€of€disruption€by€the€natural€and€legalÐ Ð Ðparents€and€that€we€may€have€to€return€her€to€either€the€mother€.€.€.€orÐ |¼ Ðto€the€legal€or€birth€father.€€We€accept€physical€custody€of€[S.M.F.]Ð h¨ Ðand€will€return€with€her€to€our€home€state€of€Tennessee€with€fullÐ T ” Ðknowledge€of€the€legal,€emotional,€and€financial€risks€inherent€in€thisÐ @!€  Ðsituation.Ð,"l!` x` x ÐÌà  àLater€in€November,€J.M.S.€received€a€notice€to€appear€for€genetic€testing€and€presentedÐ $D # Ðhimself€to€the€testing€agency€as€requested.€€K.M.F.€received€a€similar€notice€to€present€the€baby€forÐ ð$0!$ Ðtesting,€but€by€the€time€she€received€the€notice,€the€baby€was€residing€with€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€inÐ Ü%"% ÐTennessee.€€K.M.F.€made€no€effort€to€have€the€baby€presented€for€genetic€testing.€€In€addition,€J.M.S.Ð È&#& Ðretained€an€Ohio€lawyer€to€assist€him€in€protecting€his€parental€rights.€€On€November€28,€2001,Ð ´'ô#' ÐJ.M.S.€registered€with€the€Ohio€Putative€Father€Registry.€€On€the€registration€form,€he€provided€theÐ  (à$( Ðbabyððs€date€of€birth€and€skin€color,€gave€Ô_ÔK.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€name,€address,€and€telephone€number,€andÐ Œ)Ì%) Ðidentified€himself€as€the€babyððs€father.€€Ð x*¸&* Їà  àOn€November€29,€2001,€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€filed€a€petition€in€the€Rutherford€County€ChanceryÐ À ÐCourt€seeking€to€terminate€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€and€Ô_ÔL.B.B.Ô_Ôððs€parental€rights€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„Ð ¬ì Ð113(g)(1)€and€(9)€(Supp.€2004)׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€to€adopt€S.M.F.€€The€petition€acknowledged€that€J.M.S.€wasÐ ˜Ø Ðbelieved€to€be€the€childððs€biological€father€but€asserted€that€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€would€prove€theÐ „Ä Ðstatutory€grounds€for€termination€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€On€the€same€day,€the€trial€courtÐ p° Ðgranted€Ô_ÔJ.A.P.Ô_Ôððs€and€Ô_ÔC.L.P.Ô_Ôððs€motion€to€appoint€them€as€Ô_ÔS.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€guardians.Ð \œ ÐÌà  àJ.M.S.€received€the€termination€petition€less€than€two€months€after€it€was€filed.€€On€FebruaryÐ 4 t Ð11,€2002,€with€the€assistance€of€his€Ohio€lawyer,€he€filed€a€pro€se€answer.€€In€his€answer,€J.M.S.Ð  ` Ðrequested€genetic€testing€to€settle€the€question€of€the€childððs€parentage€and€sought€dismissal€ofÐ  L  ÐÔ_ÔJ.A.P.Ô_Ôððs€and€Ô_ÔC.L.P.Ô_Ôððs€petition€to€terminate€his€parental€rights€and€to€adopt€S.M.F.€€During€the€ensuingÐ ø 8  Ðmonths,€J.M.S.€believed€that€his€lawyer€in€Ohio€was€doing€everything€that€was€legally€necessary€forÐ ä $  Ðhim€to€obtain€custody€of€S.M.F.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àEventually,€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€Ohio€lawyer€informed€him€that€he€was€unfamiliar€with€Tennesseeððs€lawÐ ¨è  Ðand€suggested€that€he€retain€a€lawyer€in€Tennessee€to€help€him€protect€his€parental€rights€and€toÐ ”Ô  Ðobtain€custody€of€S.M.F.€€Within€two€days,€J.M.S.€began€searching€for€a€lawyer€in€Tennessee.€€AfterÐ €À Ðcontacting€ten€to€fifteen€lawyers,€J.M.S.€finally€found€a€lawyer€who€agreed€to€represent€him.€€OnÐ l¬ ÐSeptember€27,€2002,€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€Tennessee€lawyer€made€her€first€formal€appearance€in€the€case.€Ð X˜ ÐÌà  àOn€November€27,€2002,€after€attempting€unsuccessfully€to€negotiate€a€visitation€scheduleÐ 0p Ðwith€the€lawyer€representing€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.,€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€Tennessee€lawyer€filed€a€motion€seekingÐ \ Ðvisitation.€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€vigorously€opposed€the€motion,€arguing€that€the€parties€had€agreed€onÐ H Ða€March€4,€2003€trial€date€and€that€it€would€be€best€to€delay€the€issue€of€visitation€until€after€the€trial.€Ð ô4 ÐOn€January€15,€2003,€the€trial€court€entered€a€scheduling€order€setting€the€case€for€trial€on€March€4,Ð à  Ð2003.€€The€trial€court€did€not€address€the€motion€for€visitation€at€that€time.Ð Ì  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€began€on€March€4,€2003.€€That€morning,€J.M.S.€filed€a€separate€petition€to€establishÐ ¤ä Ðparentage€in€the€trial€court.€€His€lawyer€urged€the€trial€court€to€address€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€parentage€petitionÐ Ð Ðbefore€taking€up€the€petition€for€adoption€and€termination€of€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€parental€rights.€€The€lawyerÐ |¼ Ðrepresenting€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€responded€that€he€was€not€prepared€to€go€forward€on€the€parentageÐ h¨ Ðpetition€and€urged€the€trial€court€to€proceed€with€the€termination€of€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€and€Ô_ÔL.B.B.Ô_Ôððs€parentalÐ T ” Ðrights.€€In€the€alternative,€he€requested€a€continuance€of€the€entire€proceeding.€€He€also€opposedÐ @!€  Ðproceeding€with€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€parentage€petition€at€that€time€because€doing€so€would€have€ð ða€great€effectÐ ,"l! Ðon€what€grounds€are€usedðð€to€terminate€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€parental€rights.Ð #X" ÐÌà  àÔ_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€lawyer€did€not€oppose€the€request€for€a€continuance€in€light€of€the€filing€of€theÐ ð$0!$ Ðparentage€petition.€€She€argued€that€the€law€was€clear€that€once€a€parentage€petition€has€been€filed,Ð Ü%"% Ðthe€trial€court€must€address€it€first€before€considering€a€petition€to€terminate€parental€rights.€€Ô_ÔJ.A.P.Ô_ÔððsÐ È&#& Ðand€Ô_ÔC.L.P.Ô_Ôððs€lawyer€conceded€that€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€lawyer€was€correct€in€light€of€òòJones€v.€Garrettóó,€92Ð ´'ô#' ÐS.W.3d€835€(Tenn.€2002),€and€he€also€acknowledged€that€the€adoption€statute€specifically€states€thatÐ  (à$( Ða€pending€paternity€action€must€be€heard€before€an€adoption€action€can€proceed.€€However,€heÐ À Ðobjected€to€the€fact€that€J.M.S.€had€waited€until€the€day€of€trial€to€file€his€parentage€petition.€Ð ¬ì ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€then€asked€Ô_ÔJ.A.P.Ô_Ôððs€and€Ô_ÔC.L.P.Ô_Ôððs€lawyer€whether€he€ð ðwould€feel€comfortableÐ „Ä Ðwith€our€making€a€legal€declaration€for€purposes€of€the€paternity€action€that€.€.€.€[J.M.S.]€is€the€legalÐ p° Ðfather€of€the€child€and€reserve€the€other€issues€with€regard€to€the€paternity€[òòi.e.óó,€custody€and€childÐ \œ Ðsupport]€and€then€proceed€with€the€evidence€contemplated€on€the€petition€to€terminate€those€parentalÐ H ˆ Ðrights.ðð€€In€the€course€of€his€response,€Ô_ÔJ.A.P.Ô_Ôððs€and€Ô_ÔC.L.P.Ô_Ôððs€lawyer€admitted€that€the€biologicalÐ 4 t Ðmother€ð ðwill€testify€that€heððs€the€father€of€the€child,ðð€and€said,€ð ðspecifically€in€answer€to€yourÐ  ` Ðquestion,€I€guess,€we€donððt€have€any€proof€to€suggest€that€heððs€not€the€father€at€this€point.ððÐ  L  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€then€inquired€of€the€parties€regarding€their€witnesses,€many€of€whom€hadÐ ä $  Ðtraveled€from€Ohio€to€be€present€at€the€hearing.€€Following€a€brief€colloquy,€the€lawyer€representingÐ Ð  ÐJ.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€stated€as€follows:Ð ¼ü  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI€talked€to€my€clients€and€I€think€weððre€just€going€to€withdraw€theÐ ”Ô  Ð[request€for€a]€continuance.€€If€the€court€wants€to€proceed€to€hear€theÐ €À Ðpaternity€action,€I€guess€my€problem€is:€€this€has€been€known€forÐ l¬ Ðsome€time€instead€of€just€doing€it€just€today€but€we€withdraw€theÐ X˜ Ðcontinuance€and€proceed.€€The€court€can€declare€.€.€.€[J.M.S.]€to€be€theÐ D„ Ðfather€and€weððll€deal€with€it€at€this€time.Ð0p` x` x ÐÌHe€added€later:€€Ð H ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[Ô_ÔW]eððreÔ_Ô€not€waiving€any€objection€to€the€procedural€matter€as€far€asÐ à  Ðwhether€or€not€you€can€grant€the€paternity€.€.€.€,€weððre€simplyÐ Ì  Ðwithdrawing€our€motion€for€the€continuance.€€In€terms€of€if€this€goesÐ ¸ø Ðup€on€appeal,€I€donððt€want€it€to€be€noted€that€we€waived€any€objectionÐ ¤ä Ðas€far€as€the€procedural€manner€on€how€that€was€accomplished.€Ð Ð ÐWeððre€simply€not€asking€for€a€continuance€on€that€basis.Ð|¼` x` x ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€responded,€ð ð[a]s€I€understand€it,€I€think€we€have€to€proceed€with€the€paternityÐ T ” Ðaction€first€so€if€thereððs€not€a€request€for€a€continuance,€I€need€to€go€ahead€and€let€[counsel€for€Ð @!€  ÐJ.M.S.]€present€her€proof€on€the€paternity€action.ðð€€€Thereafter,€the€trial€court€consolidated€theÐ ,"l! Ðparentage€action€with€the€adoption€and€termination€of€parental€rights€action€without€objection€fromÐ #X" ÐJ.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€€Then€the€trial€court€took€testimony€from€K.M.F.€and€J.M.S.,€both€of€whomÐ $D # Ðtestified€unequivocally€that€J.M.S.€was€Ô_ÔS.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€biological€father.€€Based€on€this€evidence,€the€trialÐ ð$0!$ Ðcourt€declared€J.M.S.€to€be€Ô_ÔS.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€biological€father,€reserved€the€issues€of€custody€and€childÐ Ü%"% Ðsupport€for€a€later€date,€and€turned€to€consideration€of€the€adoption€and€termination€petition.Ð È&#& ÐÌà  àFollowing€two€days€of€testimony,€the€partiesðð€lawyers€agreed€to€present€their€closingÐ  (à$( Ðarguments€in€writing€and€to€prepare€written€proposed€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€In€aÐ Œ)Ì%) Ðletter€order€filed€January€6,€2004,€the€trial€court€noted€that€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€ð ðappear€to€have€veryÐ x*¸&* Ðnoble€intentions€with€regard€to€the€minor€child,ðð€and€that€ð ðthere€is€no€evidence€that€they€have€failedÐ d+¤'+ Ðproperly€to€care€for€the€child,€or€that€their€home€is€inappropriate.ðð€€Nevertheless,€the€court€concludedÐ P,(, Ðthat€ð ðthe€proof€is€overwhelming€in€its€demonstration€of€the€lack€of€intention€of€the€biological€fatherÐ <-|)- Ðto€surrender€his€rights,ðð€and€that€it€could€not€ð ðfind€by€the€legal€standard€required€that€termination€ofÐ À Ðparental€rights€is€proper.ðð€€The€court€also€noted€that€ð ð[b]oth€parties€have€referenced€statutoryÐ ¬ì Ðprovisions€emphasizing€four€month€time€periodsðð€but€concluded€that€ð ðit€is€more€proper€to€considerÐ ˜Ø Ðthe€entire€time€period€from€that€immediately€prior€to€the€birth€of€the€child,€and€continuing€evenÐ „Ä Ðduring€the€pendency€of€the€action.ðð€€The€trial€court€held€ð ðthat€the€extremely€arduous€burden€of€proofÐ p° Ðwhich€the€law€requires€[J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.]€to€carry€has€not€been€met,€and€it€is€thus€our€duty€to€denyÐ \œ Ðthe€petition€for€termination€of€parental€rights€of€the€biological€father.ðð€€The€trial€court€did,€however,Ð H ˆ Ðgrant€Ô_ÔJ.A.P.Ô_Ôððs€and€Ô_ÔC.L.P.Ô_Ôððs€petition€to€terminate€Ô_ÔL.B.B.Ô_Ôððs€parental€rights.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€February€12,€2004,€theÐ 4 t Ðtrial€court€entered€an€order€incorporating€the€letter€opinion€and€all€but€three€of€the€findings€of€factÐ  ` Ðand€conclusions€of€law€proposed€by€the€parties.€Ð  L  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€subsequently€denied€a€motion€by€J.M.S.€for€custody€of€S.M.F.€but€enteredÐ ä $  Ðorders€allowing€him€reasonable€visitation€with€the€child.€€On€March€30,€2004,€the€trial€court€enteredÐ Ð  Ðan€order€granting€Ô_ÔJ.A.P.Ô_Ôððs€and€Ô_ÔC.L.P.Ô_Ôððs€motion€for€permission€to€pursue€an€interlocutory€appeal€underÐ ¼ü  ÐTenn.€R.€App.€P.€9.€€On€April€21,€2004,€this€court€granted€the€application€for€permission€to€pursueÐ ¨è  Ðan€interlocutory€appeal€under€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€9,€set€an€expedited€briefing€schedule,€and€stayed€theÐ ”Ô  Ðtrial€courtððs€visitation€order€pending€resolution€of€the€interlocutory€appeal.€Ð €À ÐÌà@……)ìàò òII.ó óˆÐ X˜ Ðà@z z ìàòòò òTermination€Pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(óógòò)(9)ó óóóˆÐ D„ ÐÌà  àJ.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€first€assert€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€declining€to€terminate€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_ÔððsÐ \ Ðparental€rights€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9).€€Relying€on€a€2003€amendment€to€theÐ H Ðstatute,€they€assert€that€the€less€exacting€grounds€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9)€apply€toÐ ô4 ÐJ.M.S.€because€he€was€not€Ô_ÔS.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€ð ðlegal€parentðð€when€they€filed€their€adoption€petition.€€We€haveÐ à  Ðdetermined€that€the€2003€amendment€is€not€applicable€to€this€case.Ð Ì  ÐÌà  àThe€Tennessee€General€Assembly€rewrote€the€statutes€governing€termination€of€parentalÐ ¤ä Ðrights€and€adoptions€in€1995.׃T×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€These€revisions€reflected€the€General€Assemblyððs€desire€to€provideÐ Ð Ða€heightened€level€of€protection€to€a€ð ðlegal€parentðð€facing€the€termination€of€his€or€her€parental€rightsÐ |¼ Ðas€opposed€to€others€claiming€to€have€some€legally€Ô_ÔprotectableÔ_Ô€relationship€with€a€child.€€òòJones€v.Ð h¨ ÐGarrettóó,€92€S.W.3d€at€839.€€The€termination€of€a€legal€parentððs€rights€must€be€based€on€one€or€moreÐ T ” Ðof€the€grounds€contained€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(1)„(8).€€However,€the€rights€of€any€otherÐ @!€  Ðperson€may€also€be€terminated€on€one€or€more€of€the€grounds€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9),Ð ,"l! Ðwhich€are€less€difficult€to€prove.Ð #X" ÐÌà  àFor€the€purpose€of€the€termination€statutes,€a€ð ðlegal€parentðð€includes€a€childððs€biologicalÐ ð$0!$ Ðmother,€the€biological€motherððs€husband€under€certain€circumstances,€or€an€adoptive€parent.€€It€alsoÐ Ü%"% Ðincludes€the€childððs€biological€father€if€he€ð ðhas€been€adjudicated€to€be€the€legal€father€of€a€child€byÐ È&#& Ðany€court€or€administrative€body€of€this€state€or€any€other€state€or€territory€or€foreign€country.ðð€€Tenn.Ð ´'ô#' ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(28)(D).€€Thus,€the€pivotal€question€is€whether€the€person€whose€parentalÐ  (à$( Ðrights€are€subject€to€termination€is€a€ð ðlegal€parentðð€or€instead€is€among€the€class€of€persons€againstÐ Œ)Ì%) Ðwhom€the€grounds€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9)€may€be€asserted.€€òòIn€re€S.M.óó,€___€S.W.3dÐ À Ð___,€___,€2004€WL€66685,€at€*4€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Jan.€15,€2004),€òòperm.€app.€denied€óó(Tenn.€Oct.€4,Ð ¬ì Ð2004).Ð ˜Ø ÐÌà  àPinpointing€how€and€when€to€determine€whether€a€biological€father€is€a€ð ðlegal€parentðð€hasÐ p° Ðproved€to€be€elusive€when€a€biological€fatherððs€petition€to€establish€parentage€and€a€petition€toÐ \œ Ðterminate€his€parental€rights€are€pending€and€unresolved€at€the€same€time.€€In€2002,€the€TennesseeÐ H ˆ ÐSupreme€Court,€interpreting€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9)(A)€as€it€existed€at€the€time,€held€thatÐ 4 t Ðthe€courts€must€first€address€the€parentage€petition€before€addressing€the€termination€petition.€€òòJonesÐ  ` Ðv.€Garrettóó,€92€S.W.3d€at€839.€€If€the€court€confirms€the€biological€fatherððs€parentage,€then€theÐ  L  Ðbiological€father€is€a€ð ðlegal€parentðð€for€the€purpose€of€the€termination€proceeding,€and€his€parentalÐ ø 8  Ðrights€cannot€be€terminated€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9)€because€that€provision€appliesÐ ä $  Ðð ðonly€to€cases€in€which€no€legal€relationship€between€the€parent€and€child€has€been€established.ðð€Ð Ð  ÐòòJones€v.€Garrettóó,€92€S.W.3d€at€836.€€Ð ¼ü  ÐÌà  àIn€2003,€the€General€Assembly€responded€to€the€holding€of€òòJones€v.€Garrett€óóby€amendingÐ ”Ô  ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9)(A).׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€purpose€of€the€amendment€was€to€exclude€from€theÐ €À Ðclass€of€persons€entitled€to€claim€ð ðlegal€parentðð€status€in€termination€proceedings€those€biologicalÐ l¬ Ðfathers€who€had€not€already€been€adjudicated€to€be€the€childððs€legal€parent€when€either€theÐ X˜ Ðtermination€petition€or€adoption€petition€was€filed.€€As€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€recentlyÐ D„ Ðexplained,€ð ð[t]he€consequence€of€this€amendment€is€that€there€now€exists€statutory€authority€to€applyÐ 0p Ðthe€additional€grounds€for€termination€enumerated€in€section€36„1„113(g)(9)(A)€to€persons€who€haveÐ \ Ðestablished€legal€parentage,€but€did€so€subsequently€to€the€filing€of€a€petition€seeking€terminationÐ H Ðof€their€parental€rights.ðð€€òòIn€re€D.A.H.óó,€142€S.W.3d€267,€272„73€(Tenn.€2004).׃t×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ô4 ÐÌà  àJ.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€assert€on€this€appeal€that€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9)(A),€asÐ Ì  Ðamended€in€2003,€applies€to€this€case€because€the€amendment€became€effective€on€June€2,€2003,Ð ¸ø Ðlong€before€the€entry€of€the€February€12,€2004€order€establishing€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€parentage€of€S.M.F.€€ThisÐ ¤ä Ðargument€is€not€well„taken.€€The€proper€application€of€the€2003€amendment€depends€on€when€theÐ Ð Ðacts€alleged€in€the€termination€petition€occurred,€not€the€date€on€which€the€order€establishingÐ |¼ Ðparentage€was€filed.Ð h¨ Ðâ âÐ T ” Ðà  àArticle€I,€Section€20€of€the€Tennessee€Constitution€prohibits€the€retrospective€application€ofÐ À Ðâ âlaws€when€doing€so€will€impair€vested€rights.€€òòDoe€v.€Sundquistóó,€2€S.W.3d€919,€923€(Tenn.€1999);Ð ¬ì ÐòòState€ex€rel.€Cihlar€v.€Crawfordóó,€39€S.W.3d€172,€186€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000).€€A€vested€right€is€oneÐ ˜Ø Ðð ðwhich€it€is€proper€for€the€state€to€recognize€and€protect€and€of€which€[an]€individual€could€not€beÐ „Ä Ðdeprived€arbitrarily€without€injustice.ðð€€òòMorris€v.€Grossóó,€572€S.W.2d€902,€905€(Tenn.€1978).€Ð p° ÐÌà  àWhen€S.M.F.€was€born,€J.M.S.,€her€biological€father,€possessed€a€fundamental,Ð H ˆ Ðconstitutionally€protected€right€to€develop€a€parental€relationship€with€her€even€though€he€was€notÐ 4 t Ðmarried€to€her€mother.€€òòJones€v.€Garrettóó,€92€S.W.3d€at€840;€òòHawk€v.€Hawkóó,€855€S.W.2d€573,€582Ð  ` Ð(Tenn.€1993).€€Whether€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€actions€or€inactions€later€provided€a€basis€for€terminating€hisÐ  L  Ðparental€rights€must€be€determined€using€the€legal€standards€in€existence€when€the€conduct€at€issueÐ ø 8  Ðoccurred€rather€than€legal€standards€devised€after€the€fact.€€Applying€the€grounds€for€termination€inÐ ä $  Ðthe€2003€amendment€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9)(A)€to€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€pre„2003€conduct€wouldÐ Ð  Ðimpair€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€vested€rights.€€òòIn€re€D.A.H.óó,€142€S.W.3d€at€274€(declining€to€apply€the€2003Ð ¼ü  Ðamendments€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9)(A)€retroactively).€€Accordingly,€the€trial€court€didÐ ¨è  Ðnot€err€by€refusing€to€apply€the€amended€version€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(9)(A)Ð ”Ô  Ðretroactively€to€deprive€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_Ô€of€his€parental€rights.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð €À ÐÌà@^^(ìàò òIII.ó óˆÐ X˜ Ðà@_ _ ìàò òòòAbandonment€Under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(óógòò)(1)óóó óˆÐ D„ ÐÌà  àJ.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€also€assert€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€declining€to€terminate€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_ÔððsÐ \ Ðparental€rights€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(1).€€They€insist€that€they€presentedÐ H Ðclear€and€convincing€evidence€that€J.M.S.€willfully€failed€to€visit€and€support€S.M.F.€from€the€dateÐ ô4 Ðof€her€birth€to€the€date€of€the€trial.€€Like€the€trial€court,€we€have€determined€that€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€failureÐ à  Ðeither€to€support€or€visit€S.M.F.€was€not€willful.€€Rather,€it€was€the€result€of€the€concerted€efforts€ofÐ Ì  ÐK.M.F.€and€her€family€to€interfere€with€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€reasonable€efforts€to€establish€his€parentage€and€toÐ ¸ø Ðbegin€to€develop€a€parental€relationship€with€S.M.F.Ð ¤ä ÐÌà@‹‹)ìàò òA.ó óˆÐ |¼ ÐÌà  àPersons€seeking€to€terminate€a€biological€fatherððs€parental€rights€on€the€ground€ofÐ T ” Ðabandonment€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(1)€must€prove€by€clear€and€convincing€evidenceÐ @!€  Ðthat€the€biological€father€willfully€failed€either€to€visit€or€to€support€the€child.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÐ À Ð36„1„102(1)(A),€(D)„(E);€òòIn€re€D.L.B.óó,€118€S.W.3d€360,€366„67€(Tenn.€2003).€€Thus,€the€concept€ofÐ ¬ì Ðð ðwillfulnessðð€is€at€the€core€of€the€statutory€definition€of€abandonment.€€Because€the€wordÐ ˜Ø Ðð ðwillfulnessðð€and€its€derivatives€can€have€many€meanings,€the€most€appropriate€meaning€of€the€wordÐ „Ä Ðdepends€on€the€statutory€context€in€which€it€is€used.€€òòSeeóó€òòUnited€States€v.€Sanchez„Corcino,óó€85€F.3dÐ p° Ð549,€552„53€(11th€Cir.1996);€George€W.€Patton,€òòA€Textbook€on€Jurisprudenceóó€313€n.€2€(4th€ed.1972)Ð \œ Ð(suggesting€that€use€of€the€word€should€be€avoided€because€of€its€ambiguities).Ð H ˆ ÐÌà  àThis€court€has€already€had€occasion€to€construe€the€term€ð ðwillfullyðð€in€the€context€of€theÐ  ` Ðabandonment€ground€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(1).€€We€held€that:Ð  L  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àð ðWillfulnessðð€does€not€require€the€same€standard€ofÐ ä $  Ðculpability€required€by€the€penal€code.€€Nor€does€it€requireÐ Ð  Ðmalevolence€or€ill€will.€€Willful€conduct€consists€of€acts€or€failures€toÐ ¼ü  Ðact€that€are€intentional€or€voluntary€rather€than€accidental€orÐ ¨è  Ðinadvertent.€€Conduct€is€ð ðwillfulðð€if€it€is€the€product€of€free€will€ratherÐ ”Ô  Ðthan€coercion.€€Thus,€a€person€acts€ð ðwillfullyðð€if€he€or€she€is€a€freeÐ €À Ðagent,€knows€what€he€or€she€is€doing,€and€intends€to€do€what€he€orÐ l¬ Ðshe€is€doing.€€ÐX˜` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àFailure€to€support€a€child€is€ð ðwillfulðð€when€a€person€is€awareÐ 0p Ðof€his€or€her€duty€to€support,€has€the€capacity€to€provide€the€support,Ð \ Ðmakes€no€attempt€to€provide€the€support,€and€has€no€justifiableÐ H Ðexcuse€for€not€providing€the€support.€€A€biological€parentððs€willfulÐ ô4 Ðfailure€to€support€or€visit€is€not€excused€by€a€custodial€parentððs€orÐ à  Ðthird€partyððs€conduct€unless€the€conduct€either€actually€prevents€theÐ Ì  Ðparent€from€performing€his€or€her€duty€to€support€or€visit,€or€amountsÐ ¸ø Ðto€a€significant€restraint€or€interference€with€the€parentððs€efforts€toÐ ¤ä Ðsupport€or€develop€a€relationship€with€his€or€her€child.€€Thus,Ð Ð Ðattempts€by€others€to€frustrate€or€impede€a€parentððs€visitation€do€notÐ |¼ Ðnecessarily€provide€a€justification€for€failing€to€financially€support€aÐ h¨ Ðchild.ÐT ”` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€willfulness€of€particular€conduct€depends€upon€the€actorððsÐ ,"l! Ðintent.€€Intent€is€seldom€capable€of€direct€proof,€and€triers„of„fact€lackÐ #X" Ðthe€ability€to€peer€into€a€personððs€mind€to€assess€intentions€orÐ $D # Ðmotivations.€€Accordingly,€triers„of„fact€must€infer€intent€from€theÐ ð$0!$ Ðcircumstantial€evidence,€including€a€personððs€actions€or€conduct.ÐÜ%"%` x` x ÐÌòòIn€re€Adoption€of€Muiróó,€No.€M2002„02963„COA„R3„CV,€2003€WL€22794524,€at€*5€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð ´'ô#' ÐNov.€25,€2003)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€application€filed)€(citations€and€footnotes€omitted).€Ð  (à$( ÐAlthough€òòIn€re€Adoption€of€Muir€óóis€unreported,€its€analysis€of€ð ðwillfulnessðð€has€been€employed€inÐ Œ)Ì%) Ðother€cases.€€òòSee€e.g.,€In€re€M.J.B.óó,€140€S.W.3d€643,€654€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2004);€òòIn€re€A.M.T.óó,€No.Ð x*¸&* ÐM2003„02926„COA„R3„PT,€2004€WL€1488573,€at€*6€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€July€2,€2004),€òòperm.€app.Ð d+¤'+ Ðdenied€óó(Tenn.€Oct.€4,€2004);òò€In€re€J.J.C.óó,€No.€W2002„01400„COA„R3„JV,€2004€WL€115165,€at€*6Ð P,(, Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Jan.€23,€2004),€òòperm.€app.€denied€óó(Tenn.€May€10,€2004).Ð <-|)- Їà  àNot€all€attempts€by€others€to€frustrate€or€impede€a€biological€parentððs€access€to€a€child€willÐ À Ðprovide€justification€for€failing€to€support€a€child€financially€or€to€visit€a€child.€€òòBateman€v.€Futchóó,Ð ¬ì Ð501€S.E.2d€615,€617€(Ga.€Ct.€App.€1998);€òòIn€re€Leitchóó,€732€So.€2d€632,€636€n.5€(La.€Ct.€App.€1999).€Ð ˜Ø ÐHowever,€the€courts€have€found€that€the€following€types€of€conduct€may€constitute€significantÐ „Ä Ðrestraint€or€interference€with€a€parentððs€efforts€to€support€or€develop€a€relationship€with€a€child:€€(1)Ð p° Ðtelling€a€man€he€is€not€the€childððs€biological€father,€(2)€blocking€access€to€the€child,€(3)€keeping€theÐ \œ Ðchildððs€whereabouts€unknown,€(4)€vigorously€resisting€the€parentððs€efforts€to€support€the€child,€orÐ H ˆ Ð(5)€vigorously€resisting€a€parentððs€efforts€to€visit€the€child.€€òòIn€re€S.A.B.óó,€735€So.2d€523,€524€(Fla.Ð 4 t ÐDist.€Ct.€App.1999);€òòIn€re€Adoption€of€Children€by€G.P.B.,€Jr.óó,€736€A.2d€1277,€1282€(N.J.1999);Ð  ` ÐòòPanter€v.€Ashóó,€1028,€1031€(Or.€Ct.€App.€2001).Ð  L  ÐÌà@)ìàò òB.ó óˆÐ ä $  ÐÌà  àJ.M.S.€did€not€ð ðwillfullyðð€fail€to€visit€or€support€S.M.F.€in€the€four€months€immediatelyÐ ¼ü  Ðpreceding€the€filing€of€the€petition€for€adoption€and€termination€of€his€parental€rights€€ð!ð€€from€JulyÐ ¨è  Ð29,€2001€through€November€29,€2001.€€The€trial€court€found,€and€the€record€on€appeal€supports,€thatÐ ”Ô  ÐJ.M.S.€did€not€receive€notice€of€Ô_ÔK.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€pregnancy€or€her€belief€that€he€was€the€childððs€father€untilÐ €À ÐSeptember€6,€2001.€€Thus,€as€a€matter€of€pure€logic,€J.M.S.€could€not€have€ð ðwillfullyðð€failed€to€visitÐ l¬ Ðor€support€the€baby€for€four€consecutive€months€immediately€preceding€the€filing€of€the€petition€forÐ X˜ Ðadoption€and€termination€of€his€parental€rights.€€He€did€not€know€that€K.M.F.€was€pregnant€or€thatÐ D„ Ðshe€claimed€that€he€was€the€father€of€the€baby€for€most€of€this€period.€€Ð 0p ÐÌà  àThe€same€result€obtains€with€respect€to€Ô_ÔJ.A.P.Ô_Ôððs€and€Ô_ÔC.L.P.Ô_Ôððs€argument€that€J.M.S.€ð ðwillfullyððÐ H Ðfailed€to€visit€or€make€reasonable€payments€toward€the€support€of€Ô_ÔS.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€mother€during€the€fourÐ ô4 Ðmonths€preceding€the€childððs€birth€€ð!ð€€from€July€2,€2001€through€November€2,€2001.€€As€notedÐ à  Ðabove,€J.M.S.€did€not€have€notice€of€Ô_ÔK.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€pregnancy€and€her€claim€that€he€was€the€father€of€theÐ Ì  Ðchild€until€he€received€her€letter€on€September€6,€2001.€€Thus,€J.M.S.€could€not€have€ð ðwillfullyððÐ ¸ø Ðfailed€to€visit€or€make€reasonable€support€payments€during€the€four€months€preceding€Ô_ÔS.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€birthÐ ¤ä Ðbecause€he€did€not€know€of€the€pregnancy€and€the€claim€that€he€was€the€babyððs€father€for€much€ofÐ Ð Ðthat€period.€Ð |¼ ÐÌà  àMoreover,€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€conduct€during€the€relatively€short€time€before€Ô_ÔS.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€birth€and€theÐ T ” Ðfiling€of€the€petition€for€adoption€and€termination€of€parental€rights,€as€well€as€the€conduct€ofÐ @!€  ÐK.M.F.,€J.A.P.,€and€C.L.P.,€militate€against€a€finding€that€J.M.S.€ð ðwillfullyðð€abandoned€S.M.F.€Ð ,"l! ÐAlthough€J.M.S.€knew€on€September€6,€2001€that€K.M.F.€was€pregnant€and€that€she€claimed€he€wasÐ #X" Ðthe€father€of€the€baby,€J.M.S.€had€no€way€of€knowing€for€sure€whether€the€baby€was€actually€his.€Ð $D # ÐK.M.F.€was€still€married€to€another€man€at€the€time,€and€she€had€been€sexually€active€with€other€menÐ ð$0!$ Ðboth€before€and€after€her€relationship€with€J.M.S.€€In€addition,€it€had€been€approximately€five€monthsÐ Ü%"% Ðsince€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€last€sexual€encounter€with€K.M.F.,€and€K.M.F.€did€not€tell€J.M.S.€when€the€baby€wasÐ È&#& Ðdue.€€As€a€result,€J.M.S.€had€ample€reason€to€question€whether€he€was,€in€fact,€the€father€of€Ô_ÔK.M.F.Ô_ÔððsÐ ´'ô#' Ðbaby.Ð  (à$( ÐÌà  àJ.M.S.€set€out€to€resolve€this€uncertainty€by€sending€word€to€K.M.F.€that€he€wanted€to€knowÐ x*¸&* Ðwhen€the€baby€was€born€and€that€he€was€interested€in€obtaining€genetic€testing€to€confirm€the€childððsÐ d+¤'+ Ðparentage.€€Neither€K.M.F.€nor€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€informed€him€of€the€babyððs€expected€due€date.€€InÐ P,(, Ðfact,€they€neglected€to€inform€J.M.S.€that€the€baby€had€been€born€or€that€K.M.F.€had€decided€toÐ <-|)- Ðpermit€out„of„state€relatives€to€adopt€the€child.€€Instead,€as€soon€as€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€learned€thatÐ À ÐJ.M.S.€had€initiated€genetic€testing€in€Ohio,€they€left€the€Versailles€area,€stayed€at€various€hotels€inÐ ¬ì ÐOhio€until€the€formal€surrender€process€was€completed,€and€then€left€the€state€immediately€forÐ ˜Ø ÐTennessee.€€In€the€meantime,€J.M.S.€hired€an€Ohio€attorney€to€protect€his€parental€rights€andÐ „Ä Ðregistered€with€the€Ohio€Putative€Father€Registry.€€All€of€this€occurred€prior€to€the€filing€of€theÐ p° Ðpetition€for€adoption€and€termination€of€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€parental€rights.€€Accordingly,€the€trial€court€did€notÐ \œ Ðerr€in€concluding€that€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€failed€to€prove€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€J.M.S.Ð H ˆ Ðhad€abandoned€S.M.F.€either€by€willfully€failing€to€support€her€financially€or€by€willfully€refusingÐ 4 t Ðto€visit€her.€€Ð  ` ÐÌà  àFinally,€we€note€that€the€trial€court,€in€deciding€whether€J.M.S.€abandoned€S.M.F.,€did€notÐ ø 8  Ðconfine€itself€to€consideration€of€his€conduct€during€the€four„month€periods€immediately€precedingÐ ä $  Ðthe€filing€of€the€petition€for€adoption€and€termination€and€Ô_ÔS.M.F.Ô_Ôððs€birth.€€In€doing€so,€the€trial€courtÐ Ð  Ðdeviated€from€the€statutory€definition€of€ð ðabandonmentðð€contained€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„Ð ¼ü  Ð102(1)(A)(i)€and€(iii).€€In€Tennessee,€the€grounds€for€terminating€parental€rights€are€governed€solelyÐ ¨è  Ðby€statute,€and€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(1)(G)€specifically€provides€that€ð ðabandonmentðð€doesÐ ”Ô  Ðð ðnot€have€any€other€definition€except€that€which€is€set€forth€in€this€section,€it€being€the€intent€of€theÐ €À Ðgeneral€assembly€to€establish€the€only€grounds€for€abandonment€by€statutory€definition.ðð€€Thus,€theÐ l¬ Ðtrial€court€erred€to€the€extent€that€it€based€its€decision€regarding€abandonment€on€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€conductÐ X˜ Ðoccurring€after€the€conclusion€of€the€statutory€four„month€periods.€€Nevertheless,€because€we€haveÐ D„ Ðconcluded€based€on€our€own€independent€review€of€the€record€that€J.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€failed€to€proveÐ 0p Ðby€clear€and€convincing€evidence€the€elements€of€abandonment,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€decision.׃@×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€òòóóÐ \ ÐÌà@dd)ìàò òIV.ó óˆÐ ô4 ÐÌà  àWe€affirm€the€order€denying€the€petition€to€terminate€Ô_ÔJ.M.S.Ô_Ôððs€parental€rights,€vacate€ourÐ Ì  ÐApril€21,€2004€order€staying€the€trial€courtððs€visitation€order,€and€remand€the€case€for€furtherÐ ¸ø Ðproceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€We€tax€the€costs€of€this€appeal,€jointly€and€severally,€toÐ ¤ä ÐJ.A.P.€and€C.L.P.€and€their€surety€for€which€execution,€if€necessary,€may€issue.Ð Ð ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à______________________________€Ð @!€  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€P.J.,€M.S.Ð ,"l! Ðà  à€€Ð #X" Ð