In re N.F.

Filed 8/20/21
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION *

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

In re N.F., a Person Coming Under the
Juvenile Court Law.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, E076330

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super.Ct.No. RIJ1600422)

v. OPINION

E.G., et al.,

Defendants and Appellants.

APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Matthew C. Perantoni,

Judge. Dismissed in part and affirmed.

Lauren K. Johnson, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant E.G.

Jacques Alexander Love, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for

Defendant and Appellant, D.F.

*Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105(b) and 8.1110, this opinion is
certified for publication with the exception of part II of the Discussion.

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 Gregory P. Priamos, County Counsel, James E. Brown, Anna M. Marchand and

Julie Koons Jarvi, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Months after the juvenile court denied E.G. (Mother) reunification services,

Mother filed a petition under Welfare and Institutions Code section 388 (unlabeled

statutory citations refer to this code) asking for reunification services. The court denied

the petition and terminated parental rights to Mother’s daughter, N.F. Mother argues that

the court abused its discretion by denying her section 388 petition. Both Mother and D.F.

(Father) argue that the court erred by refusing to apply the parental bond exception to

termination of parental rights. (§ 366.26, subd. (c)(1)(B)(i).)

In the published portion of this opinion, we hold that the court did not abuse its

discretion by denying Mother’s section 388 petition. Mother failed to show (1) a material

change in circumstances or (2) that granting Mother reunification services would promote

N.F.’s best interests. In the unpublished portion of the opinion, we conclude that the

court did not err by refusing to apply the parental bond exception. Accordingly, we

affirm the order denying Mother’s petition and affirm the order terminating parental

rights.

BACKGROUND

I. Prior Dependency Case

The family came to the attention of the Riverside County Department of Public

Social Services (DPSS) in May 2016. Mother and N.F. tested positive for

methamphetamine and amphetamine at N.F.’s birth. Mother was 25 years old and had

been using methamphetamine since age 18. She admitted to using throughout her

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pregnancy. Father reported drinking 12 beers per day on the weekends and using

marijuana. The parents were not married and did not live together. Father was unsure

whether he could care for N.F.

DPSS filed a petition under section 300, subdivisions (b) and (g), and the court

detained N.F. from the parents. At the jurisdiction and disposition hearing in June 2016,

the court found true the allegations under section 300, subdivision (b), that both parents

had substance abuse problems and that Father had stated he was unable and unwilling to

care for N.F. The court removed N.F. from the parents’ custody and ordered

reunification services for both parents.

Mother received reunification services until the six-month review hearing, at

which N.F. was returned to Mother, and roughly 32 months of family maintenance

services after that. Father received reunification services until the 18-month review

hearing, at which N.F. was placed with both Mother and Father, and roughly 19 months

of family maintenance services after that. When the court returned N.F. to Mother at the

six-month review hearing, the court placed N.F. with Mother on the condition that

Mother reside with maternal grandmother. N.F. had three placements before her return to

Mother’s care. 1

In August 2019, after the parents had received services for over three years, the

court granted the parents joint legal and physical custody of N.F. and terminated

jurisdiction.

1 While DPSS’s report stated that N.F. had been in four out-of-home placements,
the accompanying description of her placements identified only three homes.

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 During the 2016-2019 case, Mother maintained periods of sobriety while she was

in treatment and drug testing regularly, but she relapsed several times. In August 2016,

she completed a 45-day residential treatment program. After that, she finished phase one

of the substance abuse program through family preservation court, but she was unable to

complete the entire program because of conflicts with her work schedule. In October

2017, she tested positive for methamphetamine, and she started an outpatient treatment

program the following month. It is unclear from the record whether she completed that

program. In April 2018, she again tested positive for methamphetamine and started an

outpatient program. Mother missed too many group sessions and did not complete that

program on time, but she eventually completed it in March 2019.

Father completed an outpatient substance abuse treatment program in December

2016. N.F. did not reside with Father during the 2016-2019 case, but he visited the child.

The social worker noted that Father was “not the primary caregiver for the child” and that

he had “never lived with or provided care for the child by himself.”

II. Detention in the Present Case

The present case began five months after the court terminated jurisdiction in the

first case. In January 2020, DPSS received a referral alleging that Mother had relapsed

and crashed her car several times while driving with N.F. When DPSS interviewed

Mother, she tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine and admitted to

using within the last several days. She said that she had gotten into a car accident in

February 2019 but denied that she was under the influence at the time. Mother had been

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charged in June 2019 with burglary and unauthorized use of another’s personal

identifying information to obtain credit. (Pen. Code, §§ 459, 530.5, subd. (a).)

Mother reported that Father got “drunk” every weekend and that she did not allow

him to have unsupervised visits with N.F. She also claimed that Father had a history of

domestic violence and described a December 2019 incident in which Father was verbally

aggressive and threw her cell phone across the neighbor’s yard.

Father reported that he was concerned about Mother’s methamphetamine use, but

he did not think that he could care for N.F. by himself. He admitted to having “‘an

alcohol issue.’” He had recently received a citation for possessing an open container of

alcohol while driving. (Veh. Code, § 23222, subd. (a).)

In February 2020, DPSS filed a petition under section 300, subdivision (b), and the

court detained three-year-old N.F. from the parents. The court ordered supervised

visitation at least twice per week for both parents. DPSS placed N.F. in a foster home.

III. Jurisdiction and Disposition

When interviewed for the jurisdiction and disposition report, Mother indicated that

she had relapsed four or five months after completing her last outpatient program.

Mother reported that she had been using methamphetamine “off and on” since age 18 or

19. She described another domestic violence incident in which Father choked her and

pushed her into a door.

Father reported that he had been drinking since age 15. The night before his

interview with the social worker, Father had shared a 12-pack of beer with his brother.

Father said that he had been sober for five months and started drinking again because he

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was stressed about Mother’s relapse. He denied any domestic violence but also said that

“a long time ago,” he broke Mother’s windshield after she broke his cell phone. N.F.

stayed with him during the weekends after the court ordered joint legal and physical

custody. Paternal grandmother helped him care for N.F.

In February 2020, Father visited N.F. three times and missed three visits. During

the first visit, he seemed tired and lay on the floor while N.F. played with toys. He

engaged with N.F. during most of the second visit but was also on his cell phone. He

interacted with N.F. appropriately and was attentive during the third visit.

During the same period, Mother visited N.F. five times and missed one visit. At

two of the visits, Mother tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine but did

not appear to be under the influence. Mother was generally attentive to N.F.’s needs and

interacted appropriately with the child.

At the jurisdiction hearing in March 2020, the court found the following

allegations true: (1) Mother had an unresolved history of abusing methamphetamine and

continued to use while caring for N.F.; (2) Father had an unresolved history of abusing

alcohol and continued to abuse it while caring for N.F.; (3) each parent knew or

reasonably should have known of the other’s substance abuse and failed to protect N.F.;

(4) both parents had a dependency history and received services from May 2016 to

August 2019; and (5) Mother had a criminal history.

In an addendum report prepared for the disposition hearing, DPSS reported that

Mother had started another outpatient program. Mother indicated that she had been

drinking beer every day and had replaced methamphetamine with marijuana.

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 Mother had six more visits before the disposition hearing, and Father had five

more visits during the same period. Both parents were appropriate and attentive to N.F.,

and the child’s caregiver (who was supervising) reported no concerns.

The court continued the disposition hearing several times. In March 2020, in-

person visits were suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the parents had

supervised video calls with N.F. from March to June 2020. The parents did not use their

entire hour for the video visits, but the caregiver reported no concerns with their

interactions. The social worker opined that N.F. was well bonded with both parents.

Mother stopped her outpatient program and started a 90-day residential treatment

program in April 2020. Her drug test results were all negative in May and June 2020.

The provider reported in June 2020 that Mother was meeting all of her treatment plan

goals.

At the disposition hearing in June 2020, the court removed N.F. from the parents’

custody and denied them reunification services under section 361.5, subdivision (b)(13).

The court reduced the parents’ visitation to once per week and set the matter for a section

366.26 hearing.

IV. Section 388 Petitions and Section 366.26 Proceedings

In July 2020, DPSS placed N.F. with maternal relatives who wanted to adopt the

child. By October, N.F. had adjusted well to the placement and was thriving in the home.

N.F. was well behaved and did not display any mental or emotional problems. The

caregivers and N.F. were well bonded. The caregivers loved N.F., and the child sought

them out for comfort, attention, and affection. The preliminary adoption assessment

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described their home as safe, stable, nurturing, and loving. The caregivers were

committed to providing N.F. with a permanent home.

One of the caregivers supervised the parents’ visits. Mother visited approximately

once per week, and Father visited once every other week. N.F. enjoyed seeing the

parents, and the visits went well. Both parents called N.F. twice per day, once in the

morning and once in the evening. But Mother stopped visiting in September 2020

because she was incarcerated and charged with possession of a controlled substance.

In October 2020, Father filed a section 388 petition requesting family maintenance

services or, in the alternative, family reunification services. That same month, because

Mother was still incarcerated, the court continued the section 366.26 hearing to arrange

for Mother’s appearance.

DPSS’s addendum report indicated that Father visited N.F. twice per month and

called her once per week. He wanted to visit more often, but his job prevented him from

doing so. As of late November 2020, Mother was still incarcerated, and DPSS did not

know when she would be released.

In December 2020, Mother filed a section 388 petition requesting six months of

reunification services. Mother argued that she had a significant bond with N.F. and had

maintained visitation with the child. She submitted a letter from her 90-day residential

treatment program showing that she had successfully completed the program in July

2020. Mother wrote a letter to the court acknowledging that she had “some problems

with the law,” but she said that she had been sober since completing her program. The

petition also stated the Mother had stable housing and employment. Mother’s letter

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indicated that she had renewed her cosmetology license and was working as a

cosmetologist. She submitted an electricity bill as proof of her housing, but the bill

showed that her electricity was going to be disconnected immediately unless she paid the

past due amount of over $600.

The section 366.26 hearing and the hearing on the parents’ petitions occurred on

the same date in December 2020. Father testified in support of his petition. He was due

to complete a six-month outpatient program at the end of the month and had been sober

for those six months. He visited N.F. once per week and had video calls with her twice

each day. N.F. ran to him at visits, called him “Daddy,” and showed him love and

affection. He brought snacks, treats, and toys to visits, and he tried to do fun and

educational activities with her. He loved N.F. and believed that they had a strong bond.

The court denied both parents’ section 388 petitions. 2 As to Mother, the court

found that her circumstances were “changing” but “not changed” for purposes of section

388. The court also found that it was not in N.F.’s best interests to grant the petition.

The court noted that four-year-old N.F. had been in numerous placements since her birth

and was finally in a stable home with relatives who were committed to adoption. The

court found that N.F.’s best interests were served by remaining in that home.

Mother testified when the court proceeded to the section 366.26 hearing. Mother

believed that she had a strong bond and a loving relationship with N.F. She visited N.F.

2 Although Father’s notice of appeal states that he is appealing from the order
terminating parental rights and the denial of his section 388 petition, he does not raise any
arguments about the denial of his petition. Accordingly, we dismiss as abandoned
Father’s appeal from the order denying his section 388 petition.

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once per week for one hour and called the child every day. N.F. called her “mommy.”

Whenever N.F. saw Mother at visits, the child was “super happy” and started jumping.

She wanted Mother to hold her constantly. At the end of Mother’s visits, N.F. got “really

sad.” Mother brought the child snacks and toys, and they sang the child’s favorite song.

N.F. gave Mother things that the child had made at school. Over the phone, Mother had

N.F. practice spelling and writing her own name and Mother’s name. Mother loved N.F.

and preferred a permanent plan of legal guardianship until she could have the child

returned to her care.

The court admitted Father’s testimony in support of his section 388 petition for

purposes of the section 366.26 hearing as well. Both parents asked the court to apply the

parental bond exception to termination of parental rights. The court observed: “[T]his

one is probably harder than most because it is obvious to the Court how much both

mother and father clearly love and care for their child. Nevertheless, the Court is

required to follow the law.” The court found that N.F. was likely to be adopted,

termination of parental rights would not be detrimental to N.F., and none of the statutory

exceptions applied. The court terminated parental rights.

DISCUSSION

I. Mother’s Section 388 Petition

Mother argues that the court abused its discretion by denying her section 388

petition. We are not persuaded.

Section 388 permits the parent of a dependent child to petition the juvenile court

for a hearing to modify an earlier order on the basis of changed circumstances or new

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evidence. (§ 388, subd. (a)(1).) The petitioning party bears the burden of showing that

there is new evidence or changed circumstances and that the proposed modification

would be in the best interests of the child. (In re Stephanie M. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 295,

317.)

In determining whether the petitioning party has carried his or her burden, “the

court may consider the entire factual and procedural history of the case.” (In re Justice

P. (2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 181, 189.) “Whether the juvenile court should modify a

previously made order rests within its discretion, and its determination may not be

disturbed unless there has been a clear abuse of discretion.” (In re J.C. (2014) 226

Cal.App.4th 503, 525.)

“Not every change in circumstance can justify modification of a prior order.” (In

re S.R. (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 864, 870.) The change in circumstances supporting

a section 388 petition must be material. (See In re Ernesto R. (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th

219, 223 [requiring a “substantial change of circumstances”]; In re Mickel O. (2011) 197

Cal.App.4th 586, 615 [requiring the change in circumstances to be ‘“significant”’ in

nature].) In the context of a substance abuse problem that has repeatedly resisted

treatment in the past, a showing of materially changed circumstances requires more than

a relatively brief period of sobriety or participation in yet another program. (E.g., In re

C.J.W. (2007) 157 Cal.App.4th 1075, 1081 [parents’ most recent efforts at sobriety “were

only three months old” and did not demonstrate changed circumstances]; In re Clifton

B. (2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 415, 423 [parent’s seven months of sobriety since his last

relapse were insufficient to show changed circumstances, given the parent’s history]; In

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re Kimberly F. (1997) 56 Cal.App.4th 519, 531, fn. 9 [“It is the nature of addiction that

one must be ‘clean’ for a much longer period than 120 days to show real reform”].) 3

As to the best interests element, after the court has bypassed or terminated

reunification services and set the matter for a section 366.26 hearing, the focus of the

case shifts from the parents’ interest in the care, custody, and companionship of the child

to the needs of the child for permanency and stability. (In re Stephanie M., supra, 7

Cal.4th at p. 317; In re J.C., supra, 226 Cal.App.4th at p. 527.) A court entertaining

a section 388 petition at this stage in the proceedings “must recognize this shift of focus

in determining the ultimate question before it, that is, the best interest of the child.” (In

re Stephanie M., at p. 317.)

The court did not abuse its discretion by denying Mother’s section 388 petition

here. First, the court properly concluded that Mother failed to establish sufficiently

changed circumstances. Mother introduced evidence that she completed a 90-day

residential treatment program in July 2020. Although that was a nominal change since

the court had bypassed reunification services in June 2020, the change was not material.

3 The trial court determined that mother’s evidence showed circumstances that were
“changing” but not yet “changed,” applying a distinction that is frequently drawn in cases
concerning section 388. (See In re Alayah J. (2017) 9 Cal.App.5th 469, 482; In re
Ernesto R., supra, 230 Cal.App.4th at p. 223; In re Mickel O., supra, 197 Cal.App.4th at
p. 615; In re Casey D. (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 38, 47, 49, disapproved of on another
ground by In re Caden C. (2021) 11 Cal.5th 614, 636, fn. 5 (Caden C.).) The case law’s
references to “changed” and merely “changing” circumstances are another way of
describing the distinction on which we rely, between changes that are material and those
that are not. However expressed, the point is that section 388 requires a change that is
relevant and substantial (rather than irrelevant or de minimis) when considered in light of
all of the circumstances of the case.

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The record discloses that Mother had a history of completing programs and then

relapsing. She completed programs and relapsed at least twice during the first case. In

the present case, she admitted that she relapsed four or five months after completing her

last program in March 2019. That means that she relapsed around the time the court

terminated jurisdiction in the first case (August 2019). And even if she achieved another

period of sobriety while in the latest 90-day program, there was conflicting evidence

about her sobriety after that: She claimed to have been sober since her release from the

program in July 2020, but she was charged with possession of a controlled substance in

September 2020, undermining her claim of sobriety. On this record, Mother’s brief

period of sobriety and completion of a treatment program was only the most recent

attempt in a series of unsuccessful attempts to overcome her substance abuse. Given

Mother’s history, her recent completion of yet another program did not constitute a

material change in circumstances.

Moreover, Mother’s assertions that she was working as a cosmetologist and had

housing did not establish material changes within the meaning of section 388. The court

denied her reunification services because of her unresolved history of substance abuse.

(§ 361.5, subd. (b)(13).) Without a showing that her substance abuse had materially

changed, the changes concerning her housing and employment could not support her

petition.

Second, the court reasonably determined that granting Mother reunification

services would not promote N.F.’s best interests. N.F. had been in Mother’s care for

approximately two and one-half years during the first case, but the child had also seen

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numerous foster care placements during her four years. At the time of the section 388

hearing, N.F. had been with her caregivers for roughly five months. She was thriving in

their stable home and was bonded to them. They loved her and were committed to

providing her permanency through adoption. In contrast, Mother’s circumstances were

unstable. There was no telling whether her latest efforts at sobriety would be lasting.

Mother thus failed to establish that N.F.’s “best interests in permanency and

stability would be furthered by” derailing the child’s adoption. (In re J.C., supra, 226

Cal.App.4th at p. 526.)

Mother argues that the court should have granted her petition because she made a

prima facie showing on both the changed circumstances and the best interests elements.

But the prima facie showing merely triggers the right to a “full hearing” on the petition.

(In re Marilyn H. (1993) 5 Cal.4th 295, 310.) Mother received a full hearing on her

petition. To be entitled to the requested relief, Mother had to make the required showings

by a preponderance of the evidence. (In re Mickel O., supra, 197 Cal.App.4th at p. 615.)

Mother does not argue that she carried that burden, and for the reasons already discussed,

she did not.

In sum, the court did not abuse its discretion by denying Mother’s section 388

petition. Mother failed to show materially changed circumstances or that the requested

change would promote N.F.’s best interests.

II. Parental Bond Exception

Both parents argue that the juvenile court erred by terminating their parental rights

because the parental bond exception applied. We disagree.

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 When the juvenile court finds that a dependent child is likely to be adopted, it

must terminate parental rights and select adoption as the permanent plan unless it finds

that termination would be detrimental to the child under one of several exceptions.

(§ 366.26, subd. (c)(1); Caden C., supra, 11 Cal.5th at pp. 630-631.) If the child is likely

to be adopted, “adoption is the norm.” (In re Celine R. (2003) 31 Cal.4th 45, 53.) “[I]t is

only in an extraordinary case that preservation of the parent’s rights will prevail over the

Legislature’s preference for adoptive placement.” (In re Jasmine D. (2000) 78

Cal.App.4th 1339, 1350, disapproved of on another ground by Caden C., at p. 636, fn.

5.)

Under the parental bond exception, the parent bears the burden of proving three

elements: “(1) regular visitation and contact, and (2) a relationship, the continuation of

which would benefit the child such that (3) the termination of parental rights would be

detrimental to the child.” (Caden C., supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 631 [construing § 366.26,

subd. (c)(1)(B)(i)].)

The substantial evidence standard of review applies to the court’s findings on

whether the parent has regularly visited and whether a beneficial parental relationship

exists. (Caden C., supra, 11 Cal.5th at p. 639.) Whether termination of parental rights

would be detrimental to the child because of the beneficial parental relationship is a

discretionary decision that we review for abuse of discretion. (Id. at p. 640.)

The parent must show that his or her relationship with the child “promotes the

well-being of the child to such a degree as to outweigh the well-being the child would

gain in a permanent home with new, adoptive parents.” (In re Autumn H. (1994) 27

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Cal.App.4th 567, 575.) “A showing the child derives some benefit from the relationship

is not a sufficient ground to depart from the statutory preference for adoption. [Citation.]

No matter how loving and frequent the contact, and notwithstanding the existence of an

‘“emotional bond”’ with the child, ‘“the parents must show that they occupy ‘a parental

role’ in the child’s life.”’” (In re Breanna S. (2017) 8 Cal.App.5th 636, 646, disapproved

of on other grounds by Caden C., supra, 11 Cal.5th at pp. 637, 638, fns. 6, 7.)

In determining whether the parental bond exception applies, “the court balances

the strength and quality of the natural parent/child relationship in a tenuous placement

against the security and the sense of belonging a new family would confer. If severing

the natural parent/child relationship would deprive the child of a substantial, positive

emotional attachment such that the child would be greatly harmed, the preference for

adoption is overcome and the natural parent’s rights are not terminated.” (In re Autumn

H., supra, 27 Cal.App.4th at p. 575.)

In this case, the court did not abuse its discretion by concluding that the parental

bond exception did not apply. Both parents regularly visited N.F., although Father

missed a number of visits early in the case, and Mother missed a number of visits during

her incarceration. Both parents also maintained regular contact with N.F. through

telephone or video calls. The record discloses that N.F. was excited to see them at visits,

those visits went well, and at least as to Mother, N.F. was sad when the visits ended. The

evidence thus showed that the parents shared an emotional bond with N.F.

But the parents had to show more than frequent and loving contact and an

emotional bond. They had to show that they occupied “‘a parental role’ in [N.F.’s] life.”

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(In re Andrea R. (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 1093, 1108.) There was no evidence that Father

occupied such a role. N.F. never lived with Father. He visited the child during the prior

case, and in the five months between cases, she stayed with him only during the

weekends. In the present case, he never progressed beyond supervised visitation. “[A]

child should not be deprived of an adoptive parent when the natural parent has

maintained a relationship that may be beneficial to some degree but does not meet the

child’s need for a parent.” (In re Jasmine D., supra, 78 Cal.App.4th at p. 1350.)

Moreover, assuming for the sake of argument that Mother came closer than Father

to occupying a parental role in N.F.’s life, neither parent demonstrated that his or her

relationship with N.F. was so significant that severance of the relationship would greatly

harm the child. N.F. may have been sad at the end of her visits with Mother, but the child

did not exhibit any mental, emotional, or behavioral difficulties in the caregivers’ home.

Instead, N.F. was thriving in the home of the extended maternal relatives, who loved her

and were committed to adoption. N.F. and the caregivers were bonded. She sought them

out for comfort, attention, and affection. There was no evidence that termination of

parental rights would harm N.F. so severely as to ‘“outweigh the sense of security and

belonging an adoptive home would provide.”’ (In re Jason J. (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th

922, 938.)

Both parents argue that the court should have chosen a permanent plan of legal

guardianship because of their relationship with N.F. But under section 366.26,

subdivision (c)(4), the court may select legal guardianship as the permanent plan only if it

has rejected adoption “due to the applicability of statutory exceptions.” (In re Keyonie

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R. (1996) 42 Cal.App.4th 1569, 1573; In re Cody W. (1994) 31 Cal.App.4th 221, 231.)

No statutory exception to termination of parental rights applied here, so the juvenile court

did not err by failing to select legal guardianship as the permanent plan.

For all of these reasons, the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion by

concluding that the benefit N.F. would receive from adoption outweighed any detriment

that the child might suffer from termination of Mother’s and Father’s parental rights.

DISPOSITION

The order denying Mother’s section 388 petition is affirmed. The appeal from the

order denying Father’s section 388 petition is dismissed as abandoned. The order

terminating parental rights is affirmed.

CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION

MENETREZ
J.

We concur:

RAMIREZ
P. J.

McKINSTER
J.

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