In re Gabrielle B.
A.G. appeals a judgment following a dispositional hearing held under Welfare and Institutions Code section 361, subdivision (c).[1] She contends the juvenile court did not conduct an adequate inquiry into her husband's status as the minor child's presumed father under Family Code section 7611, subdivision (d) and erred when it did not determine his paternity status. She argues the error is not harmless because had the juvenile court determined parentage status, her husband, Jeremiah G., would have qualified as presumed father and received court-ordered family reunification services. A.G. asserts Jeremiah's ineligibility for services as a stepparent will impede or prevent family reunification.
We conclude that the juvenile court conducted an adequate parentage inquiry under section 316.2. The information provided to the court at the detention hearing was sufficient to establish that Jeremiah was an alleged father of the minor child. Jeremiah had notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to appear and assert his parentage status. Jeremiah did not seek to change his parentage status from alleged father to presumed father. The juvenile court is not required to determine paternity status under Family Code section 7611 where the alleged father does not identify himself as the dependent child's presumed father and seek such a determination. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment.
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