ÿWPC¢% .xÓ#+†>p ÈÝ=ß¿½#í•)¼nár^A?Aðí ]-Ô4+È©©Í Ò­KT Wy×´iê8¹êìÙ‡Ö·Ò;ÝmÆ4AT´ÆI†¯$©O-Išo©÷õ_#ÔÙOøÕùN[C¦±¨\ðQ¶sê$ñÐl«„ð }—…Žƒ¸[„ÜpX .qF*¯è˜†Lµ2ÿþû5T£a!‘/ø[9ÂÌóÛ9ÕÀ Ç{yƒ~ڥ̥VTÉ!Gz;îÏ+ΙX]ÉlΑ)×ï~”{çÁDPÀÆh6!=¶×e0q2¡ÞÎiföl¦‚*n¿6ë¬Ó1&bœH.ík3(¨dˆÍˆ‰ôaÿt6Œé d³¼¬¨iûÁ‹ä~FÛsáÓ™’mvK·»‰$Y8Cù„P¨š3y·âÉ?ü$J \¢¸#$O ~N¸ã Ç\hd–OõµmI–.øSkEQŸzÄT£–ß ··XúE¢3m©ÑU‹ÜæÍ_øWh)|ßßSÈNЇ—t¢â3$ê¬ä7º#\œÞä Iq’hšË®ay2Qqí”o Wµ+MëVýžÞõ‰÷zjïÿXõê°†öÞ BÄô¨ÑbÄ;¶%ób#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz h‘ Æù Æ¿ Æ…ÆK 0DNU+WUN‚EÐ 0ÅÒ 0Ñ— 0³h 0­ 0§È 0¡o 0› 0•« @BKK 1u 72b44444444444444444444444 1e<<<<<<<<<<<ü¡¡ 0ë Bˆ!ˆ! 0¤¥! D5I" D-~" 0K«"«" ASö"ÆI# 0¤$ 0D³$ A«÷$˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»;sž-s (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularš‚,-B110S2 ˜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|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ ^Ý ƒR%$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôñò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThis€case€was€heard€as€part€of€the€November€7,€2002€S.C.A.L.E.S.€(ò òSó óupreme€ò òCó óourt€ò òAó ódvancing€ò òLó óegalÐ ° Ðò òEó óducation€for€ò òSó ótudents)€project€in€Cleveland,€Bradley€County,€Tennessee.Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó !Ý ƒR%$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôñò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôñòòôñÔSince€the€time€of€the€trial€courtððs€hearing€in€this€case,€some€subsections€of€Title€36€of€the€Tennessee€CodeÐ ° ÐAnnotated€have€been€renumbered.€€For€example,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36„1„113(g)(8)(A)(vi)€is€nowÐ tÄ Ðcodified€at€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36„1„113(g)(9)(A)(vi)€Ô_Ô(2001).Ô#†ôñòòôñ~#ÔÔ_Ô€Ô_Ô€In€this€opinion,€we€will€refer€to€sectionsÐ 8ˆ Ðof€the€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€as€they€appeared€at€the€time€of€the€trial€courtððs€hearing€in€1999€or€as€they€wereÐ üL Ðcodified.Ô_Ô(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular*AA ÿÿ(_17Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ  Ó*GG ÿÿ(_16Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó*88 ÿÿ(_15Ó  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÓ  Ó*55 ÿÿ(_14Ó ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÓ ` Ó*22 ÿÿ(_13Ó ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÓ ¸ Ó*// ÿÿ(_12Ó  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÓ  Ó*,, ÿÿ(_11Ó h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó pÈ xÐ ÓÓ h Ó*)) ÿÿ(_10Ó À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€ÓppÈ xÐ ÓÓ À Ó Ý ƒR%$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôñò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIn€addition€to€Ô_ÔfindingÔ_Ô€by€clear€and€convincing€Ô_ÔevidenceÔ_Ô€that€one€or€more€of€the€statutory€grounds€forÐ ° Ðtermination€of€parental€rights€exists,€a€court€must€find€that€termination€of€the€parentððs€rights€is€in€the€best€interests€of€theÐ tÄ Ðchild.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36-1-113Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô)(2)€Ô_Ô(1996€&€Supp.Ô_Ô€Ô_Ô1999).Ô_Ô€€We€agree€with€the€Court€of€Appeals€that€the€trialÐ 8ˆ Ðcourt€erred€in€failing€to€make€a€best€interests€determination.€ S.C.A.L.E.S.HamblenKindallDrowotaAdolphoBeierMorristownDickentsAssocsLipscombSneed NalepretermittedPenlandGarrett3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)"i)- ù- ÿÿ35;AGMSY_11.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. òÝ ƒR%$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôñò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAt€the€time€of€the€hearing€in€this€case,€the€correct€citation€to€the€section€of€the€statute€referring€to€notice€Ô_ÔwasÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔTennesseeÔ_Ô€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-113(g)(8)(B)(ii)€Ô_Ô(1996€&€Supp.€1999).Ô_Ô€(|G2%$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôñò»»Ô d(|3ÉJ$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÉJ$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ8€iXXdì»»d8ÑÔ‡îH$î»»Ôà@™ ™ ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEˆÐ Ö& ÐÔ#†»C»îîH$Û#ÔÓ  ÓNovember€7,€2002€Session€Ð üL ÐHeard€at€Cleveland׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ^ Ðò òó óÌò òJAMES€LEE€JONES,€III,€òòet€al.óó€v.€PIERCE€BRANDON€GARRETT€a/k/aÐ 2 ‚ ÐPERRY€GARRETTó óÐ F – ÐÌÔ‡XiX»»CÔà@@½½ìàò òAppeal€by€Permission€from€the€Court€of€AppealsÐ l ¼ ÐCircuit€Court€for€Hamblen€CountyÐ X¨  Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98„CV„059€€€€€€Kindall€T.€Lawson,€JudgeÐ D”  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<` AßÐ X  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2000„00196„SC„R11„CV€„€Filed€December€30,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ S ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<Ú` AßÐ Û+ Ðó óÌÔ#†»C»XXiÕ#ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡XiX»»CÔThis€case€arises€from€a€proceeding€to€terminate€parental€rights.€€In€that€proceeding,€the€prospectiveÐ Ö& Ðadoptive€parents€sought€a€determination€that€the€father€of€the€child€in€their€custody€had€abandonedÐ Â Ðhim.€€The€trial€court€terminated€the€fatherððs€parental€rights,€and€the€Court€of€Appeals€affirmed€theÐ ®þ Ðtermination.€€We€granted€permission€to€appeal€to€determine€whether€the€trial€court€erred€inÐ šê Ðterminating€parental€rights€on€the€basis€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-13-113(g)(8)(A)(vi)Ð †Ö Ð(1996€&€Supp.€1999)€(failure€to€file€a€petition€to€establish€paternity€within€thirty€days€after€noticeÐ r Ðof€alleged€paternity€by€the€childððs€mother)€when€the€father€had€been€adjudicated€the€legal€parent€ofÐ ^® Ðthe€child€at€the€time€of€the€hearing.€€We€hold€that€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€sectionÐ Jš Ð36-1-113(g)(8)(A)(vi)€applies€only€to€cases€in€which€no€legal€relationship€between€the€parent€andÐ 6† Ðchild€has€been€established.€Ð "r ÐÔ#†»C»XXiB#ÔÓ6ÓÔ‡XiX»»CÔÌò òRule€11€Appeal€by€Permission;€Judgment€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€Reversed;Ð úJ ÐCase€Remandedó óÐ æ 6 ÐÌòòÓ  ÓJanice€M.€Holder,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€C.Jóó.,Ð ¾"! Ðand€òòE.€Riley€Anderson,€Adolpho€A.€Birch,€Jr.,€óóand€òòWilliam€M.€Barkeróó,€JJ.,€joined.Ð ª#ú" ÐÌDouglas€R.€Beier,€Morristown,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Pierce€Brandon€Garrett.Ð ‚%Ò $ ÐÌJonathan€R.€Perry€and€Laura€D.€Perry,€Franklin,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees,€James€Lee€Jones,€IIIÐ Z'ª"& Ðand€Stephanie€Trent€Jones.Ð F(–#' Ðâ âÓš ÓÐ 2)‚$(ýa ÐÔ_ÔÔ  Ôâ âà@@OO&ìàò òOPINIONó óÐ ° ÐÌÓ  ÓÔ#†»C»XXiñ #ÔÔ€XiX»»CÔà@ì ì ìàI.€€Factual€and€Procedural€BackgroundˆÐ ˆØ ÐÌà  àOn€January€30,€1998,€Amy€Michelle€Penland€gave€birth€to€a€baby€boy.€€Penland€and€theÐ `° Ðchildððs€father,€Pierce€Brandon€Garrett€(a/k/a€Perry€Garrett),€never€resided€together€and€were€neverÐ L œ Ðmarried.€€On€the€date€of€the€childððs€birth,€the€child€was€placed€in€the€physical€custody€of€James€LeeÐ 8 ˆ ÐJones,€III€and€his€wife,€Stephanie€Trent€Jones,€pursuant€to€an€Order€of€Guardianship.€€PenlandÐ $ t Ðvoluntarily€surrendered€her€parental€rights€to€the€child€on€February€2,€1998.€€On€February€13,€1998,Ð  ` ÐMr.€and€Mrs.€Jones€filed€a€petition€to€adopt€Caleb€Luke€Jones€(a/k/a€Baby€Boy€Penland).€€On€AprilÐ ü L  Ð9,€1998,€the€Joneses€filed€an€amended€petition€adding€Garrett€as€a€party€to€the€proceeding.€€TheÐ è 8  Ðpetition€sought€to€terminate€Garrettððs€parental€rights€due€to€his€abandonment€of€the€child€pursuantÐ Ô$  Ðto€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-102.€Ð À  ÐÌà  àOn€May€26,€1998,€in€a€separate€proceeding,€Garrett€filed€a€Petition€to€Establish€Parentage.€Ð ˜è  ÐGarrett€initially€resisted€service€of€process€of€the€Jonesesðð€amended€petition.€€On€August€12,€1998,Ð „Ô  Ðhowever,€he€filed€an€answer€to€the€petition€seeking€to€terminate€his€parental€rights,€denying€that€heÐ pÀ Ðabandoned€his€son.€€On€February€5,€1999,€an€Agreed€Order€was€entered€declaring€Garrett€to€be€theÐ \¬ Ðlegal€and€biological€father€of€the€child.Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àOn€June€23,€1999,€more€than€four€and€one„half€months€after€Garrett€had€been€declared€theÐ  p Ðlegal€and€biological€father€of€the€child,€a€hearing€was€held€in€the€Hamblen€County€Circuit€Court€onÐ  \ Ðthe€Jonesesðð€petition€to€terminate€Garrettððs€parental€rights.€€The€proof€at€the€hearing€revealed€thatÐ øH ÐGarrett€and€Penland€had€engaged€in€unprotected€sex€from€January€of€1997€to€June€of€1997.€€PenlandÐ ä4 Ðlearned€in€late€May€of€1997€that€she€was€pregnant.€€Garrett€moved€to€Florida€in€August€of€1997.€Ð Ð  ÐPenland€testified€that€although€she€attempted€to€ð ðhintðð€to€Garrett€that€she€was€pregnant,€she€did€notÐ ¼  Ðunequivocally€tell€Garrett€that€she€was€pregnant€with€his€child€until€October€of€1997€during€aÐ ¨ø Ðtelephone€conversation.€€This€conversation€was€verified€by€at€least€one€witness.€€Penland€testifiedÐ ”ä Ðthat€Garrett€did€not€believe€the€child€was€his.€€When€Penland€and€her€mother€contacted€Garrett€inÐ €Ð ÐJanuary€of€1998€asking€him€to€sign€a€parental€surrender€form,€he€refused.€Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àGarrett€claimed€that€Penland€never€told€him€unequivocally€that€he€was€the€childððs€father.€€HeÐ D!” Ðasserted€that€his€cousin€told€him€that€Penland€was€pregnant€in€December€of€1997.€€Garrett€said€thatÐ 0"€  ÐPenland€told€him€she€was€unsure€who€the€father€was€when€he€spoke€with€her€in€December€of€1997.€Ð #l! ÐGarrett€testified€that€a€Caucasian€man€whom€Penland€was€then€dating€claimed€to€be€the€childððsÐ $X" Ðfather.€€Garrett€stated€that€he€thought€this€other€man€was€the€father€of€Penlandððs€child€until€GarrettÐ ô$D # Ðsaw€the€childððs€photograph€in€May€of€1998.€€Because€the€child€is€biracial,€Garrett€ultimatelyÐ à%0!$ Ðconcluded€that€the€child€was€his.€€(Garrett€is€African„American€and€Penland€is€Caucasian.)€€AfterÐ Ì&"% Ðseeing€the€photograph€of€his€child,€Garrett€contacted€an€attorney€and€filed€a€petition€asking€to€beÐ ¸'#& Ðdeclared€the€childððs€father€and€asking€for€custody.€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àOn€August€13,€1999,€the€trial€court€terminated€Garrettððs€parental€rights.€€The€Jonesesðð€petitionÐ |*Ì%) Ðto€terminate€Garrettððs€parental€rights€asserted€that€he€had€abandoned€his€child€under€Tennessee€CodeÐ h+¸&* ÐAnnotated€section€36-1-102,€and€abandonment€was€clearly€the€issue€at€trial.€€However,€the€trial€courtÐ ° Ðmade€no€finding€regarding€abandonment.€€Instead,€the€trial€court€found€that€Garrett€failed€to€file€aÐ œì Ðpetition€to€establish€paternity€within€thirty€days€after€receiving€notice€from€the€childððs€mother€thatÐ ˆØ Ðhe€was€believed€to€be€the€father€of€the€child€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€sectionÐ tÄ Ð36-13-113(g)(8)(A)(vi)€and€terminated€his€parental€rights€on€this€ground.€€The€Court€of€AppealsÐ `° Ðaffirmed€the€ground€for€termination,€but€remanded€the€case€to€the€trial€court€for€a€determination€asÐ L œ Ðto€whether€the€termination€of€Garrettððs€parental€rights€was€in€the€childððs€best€interests.€€We€grantedÐ 8 ˆ Ðpermission€to€appeal€to€determine€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€terminating€parental€rights€on€theÐ $ t Ðbasis€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-13-113(g)(8)(A)(vi)€(1996€&€Supp.€1999)׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€(failureÐ  ` Ðto€file€a€petition€to€establish€paternity€within€thirty€days€after€notice€of€alleged€paternity€by€theÐ ü L  Ðchildððs€mother)€when€the€person€whose€parental€rights€were€terminated€had€been€adjudicated€theÐ è 8  Ðfather€of€the€child€at€the€time€of€the€hearing.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌÔ  ÔÓ  ÓII.€€Standard€of€ReviewÐ ¬ü  ÐÌÓv#Óà  àAppellate€review€of€non„jury€cases€is€de€novo€upon€the€record,€accompanied€by€aÐ „Ô  Ðpresumption€of€correctness,€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€courtððs€factualÐ pÀ Ðfindings.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d).€€A€parentððs€rights€may€not€be€terminated€unless€a€court€findsÐ \¬ Ðthat€one€or€more€of€the€statutorily€defined€grounds€for€termination€has€been€established€by€clear€andÐ H˜ Ðconvincing€evidence.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36-1-113(c)(1)€(1996€&€Supp.€1999).€€We€must,Ð 4„ Ðtherefore,€apply€this€heightened€standard€to€our€review€of€the€trial€courtððs€factual€findings.€Ð  p ÐConclusions€of€law,€however,€are€reviewed€under€a€pure€de€novo€standard,€according€no€deferenceÐ  \ Ðto€the€conclusions€of€law€made€by€the€lower€courts.€€òòSeeóó€òòBank/First€Citizens€Bank€v.€Citizens€&Ð øH ÐAssocs.óó,€82€S.W.3d€259,€262€(Tenn.€2002).€Ð ä4 ÐÌÔ  ÔÓ  ÓII.€€AnalysisÐ ¼  ÐÌÓÏ'Óà  àThe€grounds€for€terminating€parental€rights€in€Tennessee€are€defined€by€statute.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.Ð ”ä ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€36-1-113(c)€(1996€&€Supp.€1999).€€In€this€case,€the€ground€for€termination€of€parentalÐ €Ð Ðrights€was€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-113(g)(8)(A)(iv),€which€provides:Ð l¼ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(8)(A)€The€parental€rights€of€any€person€who€is€òònot€the€legal€parentÐ D!” Ðor€guardian€of€a€childóó€...€may€also€be€terminated€based€upon€any€oneÐ 0"€  Ð(1)€or€more€of€the€following€additional€grounds:€Ð#l!` x` x ÐÌà@ŽŽ#ìà.€€€€€.€€€€€.€ˆÐ ô$D # Ðâ âÐ à%0!$ Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(vi)€The€person€has€failed€to€file€a€petition€to€establish€paternity€of€theÐ ° Ðâ âchild€within€thirty€(30)€days€after€notice€of€alleged€paternity€by€theÐ œì Ðchild's€mother€....ЈØ` x` x ÐÌ(Emphasis€added).€€Notice€of€alleged€paternity€by€the€childððs€mother€includes€ð ðthe€oral€statement€toÐ `° Ðan€alleged€biological€father€from€a€biological€mother€that€he€is€believed€to€be€the€biological€fatherÐ L œ Ðof€her€child.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð36-1-113(g)(8)(B)(ii)€(1996€&€Supp.€1999).Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àPenland€testified€that€she€informed€Garrett€in€October€of€1997€that€she€believed€he€was€theÐ  ` Ðbiological€father€of€her€child.€€The€trial€court€concluded€that€Garrettððs€parental€rights€should€beÐ ü L  Ðterminated€because€he€had€notice€of€his€alleged€paternity€as€defined€by€Tennessee€Code€AnnotatedÐ è 8  Ðsection€36-1-113(g)(8)(A)(ii)׃P×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€did€not€file€a€petition€to€establish€paternity€within€thirty€days€afterÐ Ô$  Ðreceiving€such€notice€as€required€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-113(g)(8)(A)(vi).€Ð À  ÐImplicit€in€the€trial€courtððs€ruling€is€the€rejection€of€Garrettððs€testimony€that€he€did€not€receive€suchÐ ¬ü  Ðnotice€from€Penland.€€This€Court€accords€deference€to€the€trial€courtððs€determinations€regardingÐ ˜è  Ðcredibility.€€òòSeeóó€òòWells€v.€Tennessee€Bd.€of€Regentsóó,€9€S.W.3d€779,€783€(Tenn.€1999)€(stating€thatÐ „Ô  Ðð ðappellate€courts€will€not€re„evaluate€a€trial€judgeððs€assessment€of€witness€credibility€absent€clearÐ pÀ Ðand€convincing€evidence€to€the€contrary.ðð).€€Accordingly,€we€find€no€error€in€the€trial€courtððsÐ \¬ Ðdetermination€that€Garrett€received€notice€of€his€alleged€paternity€as€defined€under€Tennessee€CodeÐ H˜ ÐAnnotated€section€36-1-113(8)(B)(ii).׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р4„ ÐÌà  àGarrett€asserts,€however,€that€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-113(g)(8)(A)(vi)€doesÐ  \ Ðnot€apply€to€him€because€in€a€prior€proceeding€he€was€found€to€be€the€legal€and€biological€father€ofÐ øH Ðthe€child.€€He€argues€that€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-113(g)(8)(A)(vi)€applies€only€toÐ ä4 Ðcases€in€which€no€legal€relationship€between€the€parent€and€child€has€been€established.€€We€agree.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThis€Courtððs€primary€objective€in€interpreting€statutes€is€ð ðto€ascertain€and€give€effect€to€theÐ ¨ø Ðintention€and€purpose€of€the€legislature.ðð€€òòLipscomb€v.€Doeóó,€32€S.W.3d€840,€844€(Tenn.€2000).€Ð ”ä ÐLegislative€intent€is€best€determined€by€looking€at€the€natural€and€ordinary€meaning€of€the€wordsÐ €Ð Ðused€by€the€General€Assembly€in€the€statute.€€òòSeeóó€òòMooney€v.€Sneedóó,€30€S.W.3d€304,€306€(Tenn.Ð l¼ Ð2000).€€This€Court€must€ð ðpresume€that€the€legislature€says€in€a€statute€what€it€means€and€means€inÐ X ¨ Ða€statute€what€it€says€there.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€307€(citation€omitted).€€ð ðWhen€the€language€of€the€statute€is€clearÐ D!” Ðand€unambiguous,€then€this€Court€usually€applies€the€plain€language€of€the€statute€to€resolve€theÐ 0"€  Ðissue.ðð€€òòLipscombóó,€32€S.W.3d€at€844.€€Therefore,€our€analysis€of€a€statuteððs€meaning€must€begin€withÐ #l! Ðthe€statute€itself.Ð $X" ÐÐ ô$D # Ðà  àTennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-113(g)(8)(A)€enumerates€ð ðadditional€groundsðð€forÐ ° Ðterminating€parental€rights.€€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-113(g)(8)(A)€expressly€statesÐ œì Ðthat€these€ð ðadditional€groundsðð€for€terminating€parental€rights€do€not€apply€to€ð ðthe€legal€parent€orÐ ˆØ Ðguardian€of€[the]€child.ðð€€By€excluding€legal€parents€from€its€grounds€for€termination,€this€statuteÐ tÄ Ðaffords€legal€parents€a€heightened€level€of€legal€protection€concerning€their€parental€rights.€€One€ofÐ `° Ðthe€definitions€of€ð ðlegal€parentðð€is€ð ða€man€who€has€been€adjudicated€to€be€the€legal€father€of€the€childÐ L œ Ð....ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36-1-102(26)(D)€(1996€&€Supp.€1999).€€The€legislatureððs€use€of€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðpresent€tense€(ð ðis€not€the€legal€parentðð)€indicates€that€the€grounds€for€terminating€parental€rightsÐ $ t Ðunder€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-113(g)(8)(A)€do€not€apply€to€persons€who€are€legalÐ  ` Ðparents€at€the€time€of€the€proceeding.€€Clearly,€Garrett€meets€the€definition€of€ð ðlegal€parentðð€becauseÐ ü L  Ðhe€was€adjudicated€to€be€the€father€of€Penlandððs€child€prior€to€the€proceeding€which€resulted€in€theÐ è 8  Ðtermination€of€his€parental€rights.€€Thus,€we€find€that€the€plain€language€of€Tennessee€CodeÐ Ô$  ÐAnnotated€section€36-1-113(g)(8)(A)€supports€Garrettððs€contention€that€the€statute€is€inapplicableÐ À  Ðto€him.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àFurthermore,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-117(b)€shows€a€clear€preference€forÐ „Ô  Ðdetermining€paternity€òòprioróó€to€considering€a€petition€to€terminate€a€fatherððs€parental€rights€pursuantÐ pÀ Ðto€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-113.€€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-117(b)Ð \¬ Ðprovides€that€a€petition€filed€to€establish€paternity€of€a€child€who€is€the€subject€of€an€adoptionÐ H˜ Ðproceeding€must€be€heard€òòprioróó€to€any€action€to€determine€whether€to€grant€a€petition€for€adoption.€Ð 4„ ÐIf€the€petition€to€establish€paternity€is€granted,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-117(b)(3)(B)Ð  p Ðprovides€that€Ð  \ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àthe€parental€rights€of€the€legal€father€must€be€terminated€as€providedÐ ä4 Ðby€ðð€36-1-113€or€as€otherwise€provided€by€law,€or€the€legal€fatherÐ Ð  Ðmust€execute€a€surrender€under€the€provisions€of€ðð€36-1-111,€file€aÐ ¼  Ðparental€consent,€or€the€legal€father€must€co„sign€the€petition€forÐ ¨ø Ðadoption€pursuant€to€the€provisions€of€subsection€(f)€before€the€courtÐ ”ä Ðmay€be€authorized€to€order€an€adoption€of€the€child.ЀÐ` x` x ÐÌA€father€who€establishes€paternity€prior€to€a€termination€proceeding€should€be€permitted€to€enjoy€theÐ X ¨ Ðbenefit€of€having€established€paternity.€€One€such€benefit€is€to€be€exempt€from€the€additional€groundsÐ D!” Ðfor€terminating€parental€rights€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36-1-113(8)(A).€€After€aÐ 0"€  Ðfather€has€been€granted€an€adjudication€of€paternity,€it€is€incongruous€to€terminate€his€parental€rightsÐ #l! Ðbecause€he€failed€to€timely€file€a€petition€to€establish€paternity.€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àMoreover,€the€trial€courtððs€construction€of€the€statute€is€inconsistent€with€this€Courtððs€holdingÐ à%0!$ Ðin€òòNale€v.€Robertsonóó,€871€S.W.2d€674€(Tenn.€1994).€€We€held€that€ð ðthe€state€and€federalÐ Ì&"% Ðconstitutions€require€that€the€natural€fatherððs€parental€rights€be€determined€before€the€court€mayÐ ¸'#& Ðproceed€with€the€issue€of€adoption.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€680.€€This€holding€is€based€on€the€fact€that€the€biologicalÐ ¤(ô#' Ðconnection€between€a€parent€and€child€offers€a€biological€father€the€chance€to€grasp€the€opportunityÐ )à$( Ðto€develop€a€relationship€with€his€child.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óó€at€679.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àIn€this€case,€we€find€that€Garrett€pursued€his€ð ðopportunity€interestðð€and€was,€in€fact,Ð ° Ðadjudicated€the€legal€parent€of€the€child.€€Once€Garrettððs€paternity€was€adjudicated,€his€failure€to€fileÐ œì Ða€petition€to€establish€paternity€within€thirty€days€after€receiving€notice€from€the€childððs€mother€thatÐ ˆØ Ðshe€believed€him€to€be€her€childððs€father€is€of€no€consequence.€€Thus,€the€trial€court€erred€inÐ tÄ Ðterminating€Garrettððs€parental€rights€on€the€basis€of€his€failure€to€timely€file€a€petition€to€establishÐ `° Ðpaternity.€Ð L œ ÐÌÔ  Ôà@rr#ìàIV.€€ConclusionˆÐ $ t ÐÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€hold€that€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€sectionÐ ü L  Ð36-1-113(g)(8)(A)(vi)€(1996€&€Supp.€1999)€applies€only€to€cases€in€which€no€legal€relationshipÐ è 8  Ðbetween€the€parent€and€child€has€been€established.€€Because€Garrett€was€adjudicated€the€legal€parentÐ Ô$  Ðof€the€child€before€the€proceeding€which€resulted€in€the€termination€of€his€parental€rights,€TennesseeÐ À  ÐCode€Annotated€section€36-1-113(g)(8)(A)(vi)€is€inapplicable.€€Therefore,€the€trial€court€erred€whenÐ ¬ü  Ðit€terminated€Garrettððs€parental€rights€on€the€basis€of€this€provision.€€Accordingly,€we€reverse€theÐ ˜è  Ðjudgment€of€the€trial€court.€€Because€the€trial€court€pretermitted€the€issue€of€abandonment,€weÐ „Ô  Ðremand€the€case€for€consideration€of€that€issue.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àCosts€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellees,€James€Lee€Jones,€III€and€Stephanie€TrentÐ H˜ ÐJones,€for€whom€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð 4„ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ä4 Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€JUSTICE