Domestic Relations-Termination of Parental Rights-Parental Unfitness

Staff Report//June 24, 2026//

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Father appealed the trial court’s judgment terminating his parental rights to his child on grounds of parental unfitness, abuse and neglect, and failure to rectify conditions leading to the child’s removal. Father challenged the trial court’s determination that termination of parental rights was in the child’s best interest.

Where father had inconsistently visited the child, stopped financial support and failed to commit to protect the child from a family member who had previously abused her, there was no error in the trial court’s conclusion that termination of father’s parental rights was in the child’s best interest.

Judgment is affirmed.

In the Interest of L.M.M. v. W.D.P (MLW No. 84987/Case No. SD39281 – 6 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, West, J.) Appealed from circuit court, Green County, Wichmer, J.