M.M.

The parents of the minors appeal from orders of the juvenile court terminating their parental rights and granting a petition for modification. (Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 366.26, 388, 395; further undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.) Appellants contend the juvenile court abused its discretion in granting the petition to modify the prior order for a bonding study. We agree and reverse both the order vacating the bonding study and the order terminating parental rights.

*867 FACTS

In October 2006, the Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) removed the three minors, all six years of age or younger, from parental custody due to domestic violence in the home and appellants’ failure to protect the minors. Both parents speak Spanish and require interpreters. Visits were to be supervised by a Spanish-speaking observer. The juvenile court ordered reunification services for the parents but, after 18 months, the parents failed to reunify and services were terminated April 21, 2008. Both parents asked the court to order a bonding assessment. The minors’ counsel took no position on the issue. Counsel for DHHS stated a…