In re Jesus G.
This appeal has been taken after the issuance of an order terminating parental rights to twin boys. Father and mother claim that the juvenile court erred in denying their Welfare and Institutions Code section 388 motion seeking presumed father status. Specifically, Father asserts that he must be deemed a presumed father because he filed a voluntary declaration of paternity and DNA testing proved that he was the twins’ biological father. Respondent Department of Health and Human Services (Department) asserts that his declaration was invalid because it did not conform to statutory requirements. Appellant counters that if the Department is correct that the declaration is invalid, then the order must be reversed because he was deprived of his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel. Appellant also alleges that the Department deprived him of his right to due process by thwarting his efforts to have contact with his sons. Finally, he contends that he was not provided timely notice of the proceedings. Court concluded that termination of appellants’ parental rights is supported by the evidence and that the court did not err in any respect. Court also concluded that appellant did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel. Court therefore affirmed the judgment.
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