In re S.H.

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Termination of Parental Rights
Citation
Case Number: 
2014 IL App (3d) 140500
Decision Date: 
Thursday, December 4, 2014
District: 
3d Dist.
Division/County: 
Knox Co.
Holding: 
Affirmed in part and vacated in part.
Justice: 
LYTTON
State filed petition to terminate parental rights of Respondent as to her six children. After best interests hearing, court terminated her parental rights. State's petition sufficiently stated specific statutory grounds for unfitness, and any defect in pleading did not prejudice Respondent. Wardship case as to one child had been closed a few days after filing of State's neglect petition, custody was awarded to his father, and minor had not been adjudicated abused, neglected, or dependent, or made a ward of court. Thus, court was without authority to terminate Respondent's parental rights. Court's findings that Respondent failed to make reasonable progress, and that termination was in minors' best interests, were not against manifest weight of evidence.(CARTER and O'BRIEN, concurring.)