The People of the State of Colorado, in the Interest of N.R.R., M.R.R., and K.R.r., and I.R.P.

Colorado Springs, Colorado family law lawyer represented mother in a parental rights termination action.





In 2019, mother and I.R.D. (father) adopted the children.



In March 2023, the El Paso County Department of Human

Services (Department) filed a petition in dependency and neglect

based on concerns about domestic violence between mother and

father, mistreatment or abuse of the children, and a lack of proper

parental care.

Legal custody of the children was placed with the

Department, and the children were placed with kin.



The juvenile court entered a stipulated deferred adjudication

as to father. The court adjudicated the children dependent and

neglected as to mother. The court adopted treatment plans that

required both parents to (1) communicate with the professionals in

the case; (2) provide the children with a safe and stable

environment; (3) develop parental protective capacity; (4) address

domestic violence concerns; and (5) address any mental health

issues.



At the same time, the juvenile court ordered the children, who

were placed with father's adult daughter, D.R., to return to the

family home with D.R. Father was then permitted to move back

into the family home and resided there with the children and D.R.

After father's return, D.R. stayed in the family home for about three

months.



Six months after their return to the family home, the children

moved into mother's home. Mother moved for an allocation of

parental responsibilities (APR) requesting that she be the children's

primary residential parent and that father have parenting time

every other weekend and during weekly dinners. The parties agreed

with mother's proposed APR. However, shortly thereafter, an

incident occurred between mother and K.R.R., which stemmed from

a dispute about discipline. The incident involved mother pouring or

splashing water on K.R.R. K.R.R. then ran away from mother's

home and ultimately returned to father's home. All three of the

children then moved back into father's home.



In response to the "water” incident, the guardian ad litem

(GAL) filed a motion for an APR, which requested that father be the

children's primary residential parent and that mother enjoy

parenting time every other weekend and during weekly dinners.



The juvenile court held an evidentiary hearing on the

competing motions and heard testimony from the caseworker,

father, and mother. The Department and father supported the APR

proposed by the GAL. The juvenile court largely adopted the GAL's

proposed APR and determined that it was in the best interests of

the children to reside primarily with father.

Mother appealed.



Affirmed.