From Deseret News archives:
FLDS parents hit with court papers for pending custody battle
The notices, filed by attorneys for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, announces the petitions for hundreds of children taken from the Fundamentalist LDS Church's Texas ranch.
"You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expiration of twenty (20) days after you were served this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you."
The legal notices are being published in the Eldorado Success, the town's weekly newspaper, in anticipation of Thursday's court hearing that will determine whether the children will be placed in foster care or returned to their parents. Newspaper publication is another method of serving court papers when someone cannot be located to be personally served.
The notices name all of the children that have been identified by Texas child welfare workers.
"Baby girl Jessop, a child." "Freddie, a child." "Naomi, a child." Some of them are simply listed as "in the interest of 330 children from the YFZ Ranch" or "in the interest of 16 children from the YFZ Ranch."
A separate notice published in the newspaper, names the parents they know of and lists their birth dates. It's a long list of Barlows, Allreds, Jessops, Johnsons, Mussers, Nielsens, Steeds, and Jeffs, etc.
Each lawsuit requests emergency protection of a child.
"The Court has authority in this suit to render any order, judgment or decree in the children's interest that will be binding on you, including the termination of the parent-child relationship, a determination of maternity for each child, a determination of paternity for each child, and appointment of a conservator with authority to consent to each child's adoption," the notice reads.
The upcoming custody battle for the FLDS children could be massive.
Already, Texas officials have said it is the biggest child welfare case they have ever had to deal with. Each of the children must have an attorney. More than a hundred Texas family law attorneys have already been drafted or volunteered to help out.
Many with experience dealing with the FLDS Church and its unique culture have been offering assistance to Texas authorities.
"We're doing education on how to work with the culture," said Shannon Price with the Diversity Foundation, which helps children leaving the polygamous communities.
Price said she has encouraged child welfare workers to be as respectful of the FLDS people as much as possible.
