Supreme Court of North Carolina
In re J.C.J.
July 15, 2022
Summary
The Court affirmed termination of both parents’ rights because the trial court’s findings established that each parent was physically and financially able to pay a reasonable portion of the twins’ care costs but willfully paid nothing. The Court also held that the trial court properly determined termination was in the twins’ best interests and was not required to apply a least-restrictive-disposition test. The opinion further concluded that the parents’ constitutional challenge was unpreserved and that the remaining termination grounds need not be addressed.