Zipf

Patricia P. and Otis P. appeal from a judgment under Civil Code section 232 declaring Christina P. free from their custody and control. *122 They contend that the lack of a court reporter at the hearing on the petition for termination of parental custody and control is error that deprived them of appellate review. We will reverse the judgment.

Facts and Procedural Background: The Petition and the Associated Report of the Probation Officer

The petition to terminate parental rights was filed on March 1, 1983. The petitioners are Cathleen and David Zipf, who had been Christina’s foster parents for two years at the time the petition was filed. The foster parents reside in Lassen County, where the petition was filed. Patricia and Otis P. (the Ps) reside in Contra Costa County.

The foster parents’ petition alleges five grounds to warrant termination of parental rights. These grounds are assertions that the criteria for termination in Civil Code section 232, subdivisions (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), and (a)(7) respectively are met. 1 Each assertion is set forth in language borrowed from the statute as an ultimate conclusion of law and fact. Since the hearing conducted…