ÿWPC Æb]1ûñç/XåÍjâç*Xd¦ [yj+Ä3ø¼ˆaKxç@>~6vÁ\Szô@™l¼"úJ×E´3© æ³u­çð7tJ d¥H“nªÈ2ž1tøŒÓ"c;â¶µ@A+YU¥…2^:ŠÅîˆ#a^öRº((p”«A¢3}fIP¨ãë%³\‹4©-?©ÒìD<ÉuÂ[UÕ„ÁÃt™k™SùrmúŠ1ÄúG®sÀNè“ÜR¢ `|òÁS½ã¥µûïäµèPµŒnÉÐ7êÑѽrF6Ï‚JR¹UûŽªçÖй(=4R=pK ü©úÏ® š!|‹'ƒB h_ª;Ñç ‰;ñ©˜î;Ý›ÿ¡ð@"2d½cûrdÏe˜êŽ Ðprovides,€in€pertinent€part:€Ð 'w ÐÌà8  àà ` à(c)€Termination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€must€be€based€upon:€ÐùIÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(1)€A€finding€by€the€court€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€groundsÐ â2 Ðfor€termination€or€parental€or€guardianship€rights€have€been€established;€and€ÐËÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(2)€That€termination€of€the€parent's€or€guardian's€rights€is€in€the€best€interestsÐ ´ Ðof€the€child.€ÐíÐ Ð  ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36-1-113(c)(2001).€€This€section€also€provides€the€grounds€on€which€parentalÐ o¿ Ðrights€may€be€terminated.€Ô#†XÕXXXgºÈ #ÔÔ‡XgºXXXÕÔ€The€existence€of€any€statutory€basis€for€termination€of€parental€rights€willÐ X¨ Ðsupport€the€trial€courtððs€decision€to€terminate€those€rights.€òò€In€re€C.W.W.,€N.W.W.,€Z.W.W.,€&Ð A‘ ÐA.L.W.óó,€37€S.W.3d€467,€473€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000).Ô#†XÕXXXgº#ÔÔ‡XgºXXXÕÔÐ *z ÐÌà  àA€courtððs€determination€to€terminate€parental€rights€must€be€supported€by€clear€andÐ üL Ðconvincing€evidence.€€òòId.óó€at€474òòóó.€€The€ð ðclear€and€convincing€evidenceðð€standard€is€more€exactingÐ å 5 Ðthan€the€"preponderance€of€the€evidence"€standard,€although€it€does€not€demand€the€certaintyÐ Î!  Ðrequired€by€the€"beyond€a€reasonable€doubt"€standard.€€òòId.óó€€To€be€clear€and€convincing,€the€evidenceÐ ·"! Ðmust€eliminate€any€substantial€doubt€and€produce€in€the€fact-finder's€mind€a€firm€conviction€as€toÐ  #ð" Ðthe€truth.€òò€Id.€€óóInsofar€as€the€trial€courtððs€determinations€are€based€on€its€assessment€of€witnessÐ ‰$Ù# Ðcredibility,€this€Court€will€not€reevaluate€that€assessment€absent€evidence€of€clear€and€convincingÐ r% $ Ðevidence€to€the€contrary.€€òòSee€Wells€v.€Tennessee€Bd.€of€Regentsóó,€9€S.W.3d€779,€783€(Tenn.1999).€Ô#†XÕXXXgºX#ÔÔ‡XgºXXXÕÔÐ [&«!% Ðâ âÐ D'”"& ÐÔ#†XÕXXXgºu#ÔÔ‡XgºXXXÕÔà  àÔ#†XÕXXXgºë#ÔÔ‡XgºXXXÕÔThe€trial€court€found€as€grounds€for€terminating€Fatherððs€parental€rights€that€Father€hadÐ ° Ðabandoned€S.B.D.W.€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€36„1„113(g)(1).€€The€Tennessee€Code€definesÐ ™é Ðabandonment€as:€Ð ‚Ò Ðâ âÌà8  à(1)(A)€"Abandonment"€means,€for€purposes€of€terminating€the€parental€or€guardianÐ T¤ Ðrights€of€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€of€a€child€to€that€child€in€order€to€make€that€childÐ =  Ðavailable€for€adoption,€that:Ð& vÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(I)€For€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutive€months€immediately€preceding€theÐ  _ Ðfiling€of€a€proceeding€or€pleading€to€terminate€the€parental€rights€of€the€parent(s)€orÐ ø H Ðguardian(s)€of€the€child€who€is€the€subject€of€the€petition€for€termination€of€parentalÐ á 1  Ðrights€or€adoption,€that€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€either€have€willfully€failed€to€visitÐ Ê   Ðor€have€willfully€failed€to€support€or€have€willfully€failed€to€make€reasonableÐ ³  Ðpayments€toward€the€support€of€the€child;Мì Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(ii)€The€child€has€been€removed€from€the€home€of€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)Ð …Õ  Ðas€the€result€of€a€petition€filed€in€the€juvenile€court€in€which€the€child€was€found€toÐ n¾  Ðbe€a€dependent€and€neglected€child,€as€defined€in€ðð€37-1-102,€and€the€child€wasÐ W§  Ðplaced€in€the€custody€of€the€department€or€a€licensed€child-placing€agency,€that€theÐ @ Ðjuvenile€court€found,€or€the€court€where€the€termination€of€parental€rights€petition€isÐ )y Ðfiled€finds,€that€the€department€or€a€licensed€child-placing€agency€made€reasonableÐ b Ðefforts€to€prevent€removal€of€the€child€or€that€the€circumstances€of€the€child'sÐ ûK Ðsituation€prevented€reasonable€efforts€from€being€made€prior€to€the€child's€removal;Ð ä4 Ðand€for€a€period€of€four€(4)€months€following€the€removal,€the€department€or€agencyÐ Í Ðhas€made€reasonable€efforts€to€assist€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€to€establish€aÐ ¶ Ðsuitable€home€for€the€child,€but€that€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€have€made€noÐ Ÿï Ðreasonable€efforts€to€provide€a€suitable€home€and€have€demonstrated€a€lack€ofÐ ˆØ Ðconcern€for€the€child€to€such€a€degree€that€it€appears€unlikely€that€they€will€be€ableÐ qÁ Ðto€provide€a€suitable€home€for€the€child€at€an€early€date;ÐZªÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(iii)€A€biological€or€legal€father€has€either€willfully€failed€to€visit€or€willfullyÐ C“ Ðfailed€to€make€reasonable€payments€toward€the€support€of€the€child's€mother€duringÐ ,| Ðthe€four€(4)€months€immediately€preceding€the€birth€of€the€ÐeÐ Ð  Ðà8  àchild;€provided,€that€in€no€instance€shall€a€final€order€terminating€the€parental€rightsÐ þN Ðof€a€parent€as€determined€pursuant€to€this€subdivision€(iii)€be€entered€until€at€leastÐ ç 7 Ðthirty€(30)€days€have€elapsed€since€the€date€of€the€child's€birth;ÐÐ!  Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(iv)€A€parent€or€guardian€is€incarcerated€at€the€time€of€the€institution€of€anÐ ¹" ! Ðaction€or€proceeding€to€declare€a€child€to€be€an€abandoned€child,€or€the€parent€orÐ ¢#ò" Ðguardian€has€been€incarcerated€during€all€or€part€of€the€four€(4)€months€immediatelyÐ ‹$Û# Ðpreceding€the€institution€of€such€action€or€proceeding,€and€either€has€willfully€failedÐ t%Ä $ Ðto€visit€or€has€willfully€failed€to€support€or€has€willfully€failed€to€make€reasonableÐ ]&­!% Ðpayments€toward€the€support€of€the€child€for€four€(4)€consecutive€monthsÐ F'–"& Ðimmediately€preceding€such€parent's€or€guardian's€incarceration,€or€the€parent€orÐ /(#' Ðguardian€has€engaged€in€conduct€prior€to€incarceration€which€exhibits€a€wantonÐ )h$( Ðdisregard€for€the€welfare€of€the€child;€orÐ*Q%)Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(v)€The€child,€as€a€newborn€infant€aged€seventy-two€(72)€hours€or€less,€wasÐ ê*:&* Ðvoluntarily€left€at€a€facility€by€such€infant's€mother€pursuant€to€ðð€68-11-€255;€and,€forÐ Ó+#'+ Ða€period€of€thirty€(30)€days€after€the€date€of€voluntary€delivery,€the€mother€failed€toÐ ° Ðvisit€or€seek€contact€with€the€infant;€and,€for€a€period€of€thirty€(30)€days€after€noticeÐ ™é Ðwas€given€under€ðð€36-1-142(e),€and€no€less€than€ninety€(90)€days€cumulatively,€theÐ ‚Ò Ðmother€failed€to€seek€contact€with€the€infant€through€the€department€or€to€revoke€herÐ k» Ðvoluntary€delivery€of€the€infant.ÐT¤Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(B)€For€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€"token€support"€means€that€theÐ =  Ðsupport,€under€the€circumstances€of€the€individual€case,€is€insignificant€given€theÐ & v Ðparent's€means;Ð _Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(C)€For€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€"token€visitation"€means€that€theÐ ø H Ðvisitation,€under€the€circumstances€of€the€individual€case,€constitutes€nothing€moreÐ á 1  Ðthan€perfunctory€visitation€or€visitation€of€such€an€infrequent€nature€or€of€such€shortÐ Ê   Ðduration€as€to€merely€establish€minimal€or€insubstantial€contact€with€the€child;г Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(D)€For€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€"willfully€failed€to€support"€orÐ œì  Ð"willfully€failed€to€make€reasonable€payments€toward€such€child's€support"€meansÐ …Õ  Ðthe€willful€failure,€for€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutive€months,€to€provide€monetaryÐ n¾  Ðsupport€or€the€willful€failure€to€provide€more€than€token€payments€toward€the€supportÐ W§  Ðof€the€child;€Ð@Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(E)€For€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€"willfully€failed€to€visit"€means€theÐ )y Ðwillful€failure,€for€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutive€months,€to€visit€or€engage€in€moreÐ b Ðthan€token€visitation;ÐûKÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(F)€Abandonment€may€not€be€repented€of€by€resuming€visitation€or€supportÐ ä4 Ðsubsequent€to€the€filing€of€any€petition€seeking€to€terminate€parental€or€ÐÍÐ Ð  Ðà8  àguardianship€rights€or€seeking€the€adoption€of€a€child;€andжРР Ðà8  àà ` à(G)€"Abandonment"€and€"abandonment€of€an€infant"€do€not€have€any€otherÐ Ÿï Ðdefinition€except€that€which€is€set€forth€in€this€section,€it€being€the€intent€of€theÐ ˆØ Ðgeneral€assembly€to€establish€the€only€grounds€for€abandonment€by€statutoryÐ qÁ Ðdefinition.€Specifically,€it€shall€not€be€required€that€a€parent€be€shown€to€haveÐ Zª Ðevinced€a€settled€purpose€to€forego€all€parental€rights€and€responsibilities€in€order€forÐ C“ Ða€determination€of€abandonment€to€be€made.€Decisions€of€any€court€to€the€contraryÐ ,| Ðare€hereby€legislatively€overruled;ÐeÐ Ð  ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(1)(Supp.€2004).Ð ç 7 ÐÌà  àAt€the€time€of€the€hearing,€Father€was€incarcerated€but€participated€in€the€matter€byÐ ¹" ! Ðdeposition€and€was€represented€by€counsel.€€The€trial€court€foundÔ#†XÕXXXgº9#ÔÔ‡XgºXXXÕÔ€that€for€a€period€of€greater€thanÐ ¢#ò" Ðfour€months€prior€to€his€incarceration€Father€willfully€had€failed€to€visit€or€support€S.B.D.W.€€TheÐ ‹$Û# Ðtrial€court€further€found€that€ð ðno€person€has€deprived€[Father]€of€visitation€with€his€child,€nor€keptÐ t%Ä $ Ðhim€from€seeing€the€child€or€exercising€visitation€with€his€child.ðð€€The€court€additionally€determinedÐ ]&­!% Ðthat€termination€of€Fatherððs€parental€rights€was€in€the€best€interests€of€S.B.D.W.€€The€trial€courtÐ F'–"& Ðterminated€Mother€and€Fatherððs€parental€rights€and€granted€K.W.€and€R.W.ððs€petition€for€adoption.€Ð /(#' ÐÌà  à€Father€does€not€deny€that€he€failed€to€visit€or€support€S.B.D.W.€for€at€least€four€months€priorÐ *Q%) Ðto€his€incarceration,€but€contends€his€failure€to€do€so€was€not€willful.€€Father€asserts€that€P.B.,€whoÐ ê*:&* Ðhad€legal€custody€of€S.B.D.W.,€refused€to€allow€him€onto€her€property,€with€the€exception€of€oneÐ Ó+#'+ Ðvisit,€and€refused€to€permit€him€to€take€the€child.€€Father€testified€that€he€spoke€to€S.B.D.W.€on€theÐ ° Ðtelephone€several€times€while€S.B.D.W.€was€visiting€with€Mother.€€Petitioners,€on€the€other€hand,Ð ™é Ðassert€Father€has€had€almost€no€contact€with€S.B.D.W.€practically€since€her€birth.€€They€assert€FatherÐ ‚Ò Ðmade€only€one€attempt€to€visit€S.B.D.W.€at€P.B.ððs€home€in€December€2002.€€P.B.€testified€that€sheÐ k» Ðwas€fearful€of€allowing€Father,€who€was€co„habitating€with€his€ex„wifeððs€much€younger€daughter,Ð T¤ Ðwhom€he€had€raised€from€the€age€of€five,€to€take€S.B.D.W.€away€from€her€home€unsupervised.€Ð =  ÐPetitioners€assert€Father€was€not€prevented€from€visiting€S.B.D.W.€at€P.B.ððs€home.€€They€furtherÐ & v Ðsubmit€that€Father€never€called€to€see€S.B.D.W.€or€to€inquire€about€her,€never€supported€the€child,Ð  _ Ðand€failed€to€send€her€even€a€single€piece€of€mail.€€Ð ø H ÐÔ#†XÕXXXgºi8#ÔÔ‡XgºXXXÕÔà  àÌà  àHaving€reviewed€the€entire€record€in€this€case,€we€find€clear€and€convincing€evidenceÐ Ê   Ðsupports€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€The€record€establishes€that€Father€has€been€incarceratedÐ ³  Ðfrequently€and€that,€before€going€to€live€with€K.W.€and€R.W.,€S.B.D.W.€had€been€in€the€care€of€P.B.Ð œì  Ðalmost€since€birth.€€Fatherððs€deposition€testimony€establishes€that€Father€made€no€attempt€to€supportÐ …Õ  ÐS.B.D.W.€and,€with€the€exception€of€one€half„hour€visit€in€December€2002,€made€no€attempt€to€visitÐ n¾  Ðher.€€Although€Father€contends€that€P.B.€stated€that€he€was€not€welcome€on€her€property,€Father€doesÐ W§  Ðnot€assert€that€he€attempted€to€visit€S.B.D.W.€and€was€denied€the€opportunity.€Ð @ ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€further€found€that€termination€of€Fatherððs€parental€rights€and€adoption€ofÐ b ÐS.B.D.W.€by€K.W.€and€R.W.€are€in€the€best€interest€of€S.B.D.W.€€Father€does€not€submit€that€theÐ ûK Ðtrial€court€erred€in€this€determination€and,€having€reviewed€the€record,€we€agree€that€termination€ofÐ ä4 ÐFatherððs€parental€rights€is€in€S.B.D.W.ððs€best€interest.€€We€accordingly€affirm€termination€of€FatherððsÐ Í Ðparental€rights€based€on€abandonment€as€defined€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€Section€36„1„102(1)(A)(iv).€Ô#†XÕXXXgºÈ@#ÔÔ‡XgºXXXÕÔÐ ¶ ÐÌÓ  Óò òòòHolding€óóó óÐ ˆØ ÐÌÓÔFÓà  àIn€light€of€the€foregoing,€we€affirm€termination€of€Fatherððs€parental€rights€to€S.B.D.W.€€CostÐ Y© Ðof€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€Appellant,€and€his€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.€Ð B’ ÐÌÌ€ÌÔ#†XÕXXXgºŸF#Ôà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð æ 6 Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGE