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Case: In the Interest of: K.J.L.
Court: Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District
Decision Date: Unknown
Outcome: affirmed
Practice Area: other
Canonical URL: https://ott.law/missouri-courts/opinions/in-the-interest-of-kjl-201694
Official Source URL: https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=201694

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## Opinion

]n tbc ;!Missouri qtourt of �ppcals 
�astern 1!listrict 
IN THE INTEREST OF: K.J.L. 

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Introduction 
No. EDl
 10726 
A
ppeal from the Circuit Court of 
St. Charles County 
H
on. W. Christopher McDonough 

tober 3, 2023 
N.M.L. ("Grandmother") and C.E.L., Sr. ("Grandfather") (collectively, the
"Grandparents") appeal from the trial court's judgment dismissing their petition for relative 
adoption and termination of parental rights over their grandson, K.J.L. Grandparents raise two 
points on appeal arguing the trial court erred in dismissing their petition because substantial and 
competent evidence showed Mother abandoned or neglected K.J.L. under Section 453.040(7), 
1
respectively. Because the record supported the trial court's determination that Mother neither 
abandoned nor neglected K.J.L., the trial court did not err in declining to terminate Mother's 
parental rights and thereby mooting Grandparents' petition for relative adoption. Accordingly, 
we affirm the trial court's judgment. 
1 
All Section references are to RSMo (2016).