Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services v. Richard B.

INTRODUCTION

The appellant, Richard B. (Richard), 1 challenges the trial court’s order of August 24, 2010, which (1) denied his request to be recognized as the presumed father 2 of Cheyenne B. (Cheyenne) and (2) found that Dennis M. (Dennis) was her presumed father. 3 The findings of that order formed the basis for the September 29, 2010 judgment declaring Cheyenne and D.H. 4 (D.H.) to be dependents of the court and permanently placing them with Dennis. Richard asserts that his August 20, 2009 judgment regarding parental obligations is a judgment establishing his paternity with respect to Cheyenne *1365 and, therefore, the Family Code 5 section 7611, subdivision (d) 6 presumption that Dennis is Cheyenne’s presumed father is rebutted pursuant to section 7612, subdivision (c). 7 He also asserts that the trial court was required to give *1366 effect to the previous judicial determination regarding his paternity because, under section 7636, 8 such an adjudication establishes that he is her father “for all purposes,” including a finding that he is Cheyenne’s presumed father, and the trial court was without authority to make a paternity determination with respect to Dennis as…