Los Angeles County Department of Adoptions v. Miriam C.

Petitioner, County of Los Angeles Department of Adoptions, brought this action pursuant to Civil Code section 232.9, seeking to have minors Angelica G. and Rose G. *412 declared free from parental custody and control. 1 The petition, filed October 6, 1972, specifically relied upon subdivisions (a) and (b) of Civil Code section 232, 2 and was opposed by the natural parents of the minors, Rafael G. and Miriam C. 3 After a series of hearings, ending in May 1973, the trial court granted the petition on August 1, 1973, on the basis of Civil Code section 232, subdivision (a), only. The natural parents then requested findings of fact and conclusions of law. This request was denied September 6, 1973. Judgment was entered October 30, 1973, and the natural parents have appealed. A post-trial motion was made below on the parents’ behalf seeking to stay execution of the judgment until the appeal had been concluded; to reinstate parental visiting rights with the minors, pending appeal; and to obtain without cost to the parents, as indigents, a clerk’s transcript and a reporter’s transcript on appeal. The trial court denied visiting rights, but ordered that no adoption of the minors…