Legal Notices

NOTICE IN THE FAMILY COURT FOR STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF SUMTER SUMMONS DOCKET NO.: 2020-DR-43-00278 Kimberly Whitfield and Aaron Whitfield Plaintiffs, vs. Mikayla Nicole Brindle and Corey Jacob Wallen, Defendants, In the interest of, B.C.B DOB: October 3, 2019, a minor under the age of fourteen (14) years old. TO: THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: MIKAYLA NICOLE BRINDLE AND COREY JACOB WALLEN YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to the said Complaint on John S. Keffer, Esquire, at his office located at 10 Law Range, Sumter South Carolina, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to Answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. Dated at Sumter, South Carolina, on the 9th of April 2020. KEFFER LAW FIRM By: Attorney for Plaintiff S.C. Bar #67910 10 Law Range Sumter, South Carolina 29150 Ph.: (803) 774-1004 IN THE FAMILY COURT FOR THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF SUMTER ORDER OF APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD LITEM DOCKET NO.: 2020-DR-43-00278 Kimberly Whitfield and Aaron Whitfield, Plaintiffs, vs. Mikayla Nicole Brindle and Corey Jacob Wallen, Defendants. In the Interest of, B.C.B. DOB: October 3, 2019, a minor under the age of fourteen (14) years old. The Plaintiffs, Kiberly Whitfield and Aaron Whitfield, are seeking Termination of Parental Rights of the Defendants, Mikayla Nicole Brindle and Corey Jacob Wallen. In the best interest of the minor, B.C.B. the plaintiff would ask the Family Court to appoint a Guardian ad Litem in this action. Due to lack of having a Guardian ad Litem appointed in this matter. The Plaintiffs would request that this Court grant an Order appointing a Guardian ad litem to appear for the minor child in this action, and the Plaintiffs further requests that Deborah V. Dawson, a practicing attorney and member of the Sumter County Bar, be so appointed since she has had experience in matters such as this, and is a person of good judgment; NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby ORDERED, that the Deborah V. Dawson be appointed as Guardian ad Litem for the minor child, in whose interest the matter is brought, to appear for said minor and to represent and protect her interests in this cause. AND IT IS SO ORDERED! JUDGE OF THE FAMILY COURT THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT Sumter, South Carolina April 15, 2020. IN THE FAMILY COURT FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF SUMTER DOCKET NO.: 2020-DR-43-00278 NOTICE OF ADOPTION TO BIOLOGICAL PARENTS Kimberly Whitfield and Aaron Whitfield, Plaintiffs, vs. Mikayla Nicole Brindle and, Corey Jacob Wallen Defendants. In the Interest of B.C.B, DOB: October 3, 2019, a minor under the age of fourteen (14) years old. TO: MIKAYLA NICOLE BRINDLE, THE BIOLOGICAL MOTHER OF THE MINOR CHILD, AND COREY JACOB WALLEN, THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER, WHO IS GIVEN THE FOLLOWING NOTICE: YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to the provisions of Section 63-9-730(E), et seq, of the Code of Law of South Carolina, (1976, as amended), that the minor child, B.C.B, whose date of birth is October 3, 2019, in the County of Sumter, State of South Carolina. The minor child has been in the care of the Plaintiffs Kimberly and Aaron Whitfield since on or about March 15, 2020. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the adoptees’ caregivers have indicated that you, Mikayla Nicole Brindle, are the biological mother of the minor child/adoptee above named. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the adoptees’ caregivers have indicated that you, Corey Jacob Wallen, are the biological father of the minor child/adoptee above named. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that an adoption action was filed on April 13, 2020, in the Sumter County Family Court, 215 North Harvin Street in Sumter, South Carolina, bearing the Docket Number: 2020-DR-43-00278. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that within thirty (30) days of your receipt of this Notice of Adoption, you must respond by filing with the Sumter County Family Court a formal written or typed Answer specifically stating your reasons for doing so. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Sumter County Family Court must be informed of your current address and any changes of address during the entire adoption proceeding. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that your failure to file an Answer or other response within thirty (30) days of your receipt of this Notice of Adoption constitutes YOUR CONSENT to the Plaintiffs’ adoption of the adoptee, AND also constitutes FORFEITURE AND RELINQUISHMENT of all of your parental rights and obligations to the adoptee. BE SO NOTIFIED. KEFFER LAW FIRM By: JOHN S. KEFFER Attorney for Plaintiff S.C. Bar #67910 10 Law Range Sumter, South Carolina 29150 Ph.: (803) 774-1004 April 13, 2020. IN THE FAMILY COURT FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF SUMTER CASE NO.: 2020-DR-43-00278 ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION Kimberly Whitfield and Aaron Whitfield, Plaintiffs, vs. Mikayla Nicole Brindle and Corey Jacob Wallen, Defendants. This matter is before me on motion of John S. Keffer, Attorney for the Plaintiffs. The Plaintiffs seek to serve the Defendant, Corey Jacob Wallen, by publication pursuant to 15-9-710 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976. Accompanying this motion is the Affidavit in Support of Order for Service by Publication. It appears to the satisfaction of the Court from the Affidavit, that a diligent effort to ascertain the whereabouts of the Defendant, Corey Jacob Wallen, or to determine his residence for the purpose of service has been made and that he cannot be found within this State. It further appears that a cause of action exists against the Defendant, Corey Jacob Wallen, and that he is the proper party to the proceedings. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, that the Defendant, Corey Jacob Wallen, be served by publication and that publication be made in The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington W.V, a newspaper in the County most likely to give notice to the persons to be served, for a reasonable time, but at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks. JUDGE OF FAMILY COURT THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT Sumter, South Carolina This 14th day of June, 2020 IN THE FAMILY COURT FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF SUMTER PETITION FOR ADOPTION AND TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS DOCKET NO.: 2020-DR-43-00278 Kimberly Whitfield and Aaron Whitfield Plaintiffs, vs. Mikayla Nicole Brindle and Corey Jacob Wallen, Defendants. In the Interest of Braxton Cole Brindle, DOB: October 3, 2019, a minor under the age of fourteen (14) years old. The above-named Plaintiffs, Kimberly Whitfield and Aaron Whitfield, would show unto this Honorable Court the following: 1. The Plaintiff, Kimberly Whitfield, born 5/17/1980 and Aaron Whitfield, born 2/27/1985, are married, and whose address is 1135 Dewees St, Sumter, South Carolina, 29150, and has resided in this County and State for a period exceeding one (1) year prior to the institution of this action for a closed adoption. 2. The Defendant, Mikayla Nicole Brindle., is a resident and citizen of the County of Sumter, State of South Carolina residing at 1712 Broome St, Sumter, SC, 29150. That the Defendant, Corey Jacob Wallen, has no known address. 3. That the Defendant, Mikayla Nicole Brindle, born 3/29/1998 is the natural Mother of the minor child Braxton Cole Brindle who will be referred to hence as B.C.B, a male born in Sumter, South Carolina on October 3, 2019. That the Defendant, Corey Jacob Wallen, born 1/31/1996, is the natural Father of B.C.B 4. That the Defendants in this matter were previously in a relationship, and that out of that relationship the minor child, B.C.B, was born. 5. That the minor B.C.B was placed with the Plaintiffs on or about March 27, 2020 by a relative of the Defendant, Mikayla Nicole Brindle. 6. The Plaintiff would show that a strong parent/child relationship has developed between them and the minor child. The minor child has resided continuously with the Plaintiffs. It is the desire of Plaintiffs to establish a relationship of parent and child between themselves and the minor child. The Plaintiffs would allege that they are fit and proper people and are able to care for the minor child. The Plaintiffs would show that they are providing a stable environment for the minor child in their home. 7. The Defendant, Mikayla Nicole Brindle, based upon information and belief, voluntarily gave up her minor child. 8. That for the above stated reasons, the Plaintiffs are informed and believe and therefore alleges that it is in the best interest of the minor child for the Defendants’ rights to be terminated and for the minor child’s name to be changed to “Ezra Floyd Whitfield”. 10. The Plaintiffs would request that the Court allow the Final Hearing to be held ninety (90) days after filing of this Petition. The Plaintiffs would make this request upon the basis that a strong parental bond has grown between the Plaintiffs and the minor child and the Plaintiffs have shown that they are able to take over the responsibilities as the parents of the minor child as they have been able to do for several weeks prior to the filings of this Petition. 11. The Plaintiff would request that if they are unsuccessful in having the Defendants, Mikayla Nicole Brindle and Corey Jacob Wallen’s parental rights terminated, that the court grant custody of the minor child B.C.B, to the Plaintiffs, Kimberly and Aaron Whitfield. 12. That the Plaintiffs request an Order of Discovery. 13. That the Court appoint a Guardian ad Litem. That the Plaintiffs request using Deborah Dawson as Guardian Ad Litem 14. That the Plaintiff request that the Defendants, Mikayla Nicole Brindle and Corey Jacob Wallen be ordered to pay all of the Plaintiff’s attorney fees and cost, the cost and expense of the Guardian ad Litem. The reality is that the Defendants, Mikayla Nicole Brindle and Corey Jacob Wallen, have shown a complete disregard for the minor child, his well-being, as well as the financial support of the child, relying upon others to do that which was their responsibility. NOW, THEREFORE, based upon the foregoing, the Plaintiffs would ask this Court to: a. ORDER, that all of the affirmative relief sought be granted; b. ORDER, that the Defendant’s parental rights be forever terminated as to the minor child; c. ORDER, that the South Carolina Office of Vital Records be required to amend the birth records of the minor child to remove the Defendant’s name as biological father and biological mother, and to change the child’s name to “Ezra Floyd Whitfield”, as requested above. d. ORDER, that a GAL be appointed to represent the best interest and welfare of the minor child in regards to the termination of parental rights and adoption action. That Deborah Dawson be that GAL. e. ORDER, that the parties engage in Discovery; f. ORDER, that the Defendants, Mikayla Nicole Brindle and Corey Jacob Wallen, be required to pay all of the Plaintiff’s attorney fees and costs and expenses as well as the GAL costs and expenses. h. ORDER, such other relief as the Court deems just and proper. KEFFER LAW FIRM By: JOHN S. KEFFER Attorney for Plaintiff S.C. Bar #67910 10 Law Range Sumter, South Carolina 29150 Ph.: (803) 774-1004 LH-95675 7-24,31;8-7;2020