In re Kimberly M. CA2/4
Appellant D.E. (appellant) maintains that the juvenile court erred in denying an oral request for genetic testing to determine if he is the child’s biological father, made at the selection and implementation hearing at which parental rights were terminated. He contends the juvenile court had a mandatory duty to determine biological paternity, and remand for that purpose is required. He also claims to have been prejudiced by the court’s denial of his request to determine paternity, because he may have been granted reunification services. We conclude that, although the court had a duty to make a paternity finding, no reversal is in order because appellant could not establish an entitlement to reunification services. Any error regarding the court’s failure to make a paternity finding was harmless; the results of a genetic test would not change the outcome of this case. Accordingly, we affirm.
Comments on In re Kimberly M. CA2/4