Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Date unavailable
In the Matter of M.D.P., a minor., Respondent, vs. T.P., Appellant.
T.P. appealed the trial court's judgment granting a petition for adoption and denying his motion to reopen evidence. The appellate court found the circuit court erred by closing the record prior to the filing of statutorily required documents, specifically the respondent's criminal background check and Children's Division history, which were necessary for a best interest analysis. Consequently, the court reversed the judgment of adoption and remanded the case for the circuit court to reopen evidence for the admission and consideration of these records.