In re J.M.

Citations

• 2023 Ohio 2785

Syllabus

CHILDREN – PERMANENT CUSTODY – RIGHT TO COUNSEL – R.C. 2151.352 – JUV.R. 4(A) – IN-CAMERA INTERVIEW – R.C. 2151.414 – BEST INTEREST: The juvenile court did not err when it did not appoint counsel for a custody petitioner who was not a parent and had not acted in loco parentis. The juvenile court did not err when it held an in-camera interview with a 14-year-old child to determine his wishes with regard to the petitioner's motion for custody and the children services agency's motion for permanent custody. The juvenile court did not abuse its discretion when it denied petitioner's motion for custody of the child and granted permanent custody to the children services agency where the court assessed all of the statutory best-interest factors and found that they weighed in favor of permanent custody to the agency and not for petitioner based on the poor relationship between the child and petitioner, insufficient space in petitioner's home for the child, and petitioner's unfamiliarity with the child's mental-health needs.