Domestic Relations : Guardianship – Abandonment – Third Party

Where a mother abdicated all childcare duties for a child at birth for two and a half years to appellant and made no effort to visit the child even when he was hospitalized for two months, the failure to provide any personal or financial support constituted neglect and abandonment, and the trial court’s judgment granting guardianship to the mother instead of the appellant is reversed and remanded.

Judgment is reversed and remanded.

J.R.D. v. J.L.D. (MLW No. 67255/Case No. ED101337 – 9 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, Sullivan, J.) Appealed from circuit court, Marion County, Jackson, J. (Stephen Ray Porter for appellant) (Respondent, pro se).

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