In re N.W.
Annotate this CaseChild was placed with her maternal grandaunt (Grandaunt) after child was removed from her mother's custody. The district court subsequently terminated Parents' parental rights to Child. Child was kept with Grandaunt until the Department of Health and Human Services reconsidered placing Child on adoption with Grandaunt and eventually removed Child from Grandaunt's care. Grandaunt subsequently filed a motion to intervene in the child protection proceeding and filed a motion for a placement hearing. The trial court denied the motions without a hearing. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) because Grandaunt failed to establish a permanent and legally recognized relationship with Child after having an opportunity to do so, the trial court did not err in declining her motion to intervene; and (2) because Grandaunt did not qualify as a relative and was properly denied intervenor status, she did not have standing to seek placement of Child with her.
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