In Re Aiden M.

A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights. The original petition, which asserted multiple grounds for termination, was filed in June of 2016. At the time, the ground of abandonment for failure to visit and support required the petitioners to prove the parent’s failure to visit and support the child was, inter alia, willful. Prior to trial, the petitioners filed an amended complaint to assert, inter alia, the ground of abandonment based on the amended statute, which did not require proof of willfulness. When the case went to trial, the court based its ruling on the grounds asserted in both the original and amended petition, considered two different four-month periods for the ground of abandonment—one preceding the filing of the original petition and one preceding the filing of the amended
petition—and determined that all of the alleged grounds had been proven and that termination of the mother’s parental rights was in the child’s best interest. This appeal followed. We have determined that the petitioners failed to prove the ground of failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody or financial responsibility of the child. We also hold, inter alia, that the trial court erred in considering two different fourmonth periods for the ground of abandonment because the claims asserted in the amended petition arose out of the same conduct as that set forth in the original petition; thus, the amendment related back to the date of the original pleading. Nevertheless, the record contains clear and convincing evidence to support the trial court’s determination that the petitioners proved grounds based on the mother’s conduct during the relevant period preceding the filing of the original petition. We also find the record contains clear and convincing evidence to support the trial court’s determination that termination of the mother’s parental rights is in the child’s best interest. Having affirmed the trial court’s determination that two grounds were established and that termination of the mother’s parental rights is in the child’s best interest, we affirm the termination of the mother’s parental rights.