In Re Maribel T.

116 Cal.Rptr.2d 631 (2002) 96 Cal.App.4th 82 In re MARIBEL T., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.

Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Plaintiff,

v.

Claudia B., Defendant and Respondent;

Martin T., Defendant and Appellant.

No. B150399. Court of Appeal, Second District, Division Three.

February 11, 2002. [632] No appearance for Plaintiff.

Janette Freeman Cochran, Pasadena, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.

Karen L. Christensen, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Respondent Claudia B.

KLEIN, P.J.

Martin T. (father) appeals a custody order of the juvenile court which prohibits father from removing his daughter, Maribel T. (born June 1998), from the State of California without prior notice to mother. We direct the juvenile court to modify its written order to conform to its oral pronouncement and, as so modified, affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Maribel T. was declared a ward of the court on October 7, 1998, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 based on petition which, as sustained, alleged mother has a history of drug abuse, father is a current user of alcohol, mother and father engaged in a violent altercation in the presence of the minor, Maribel T.'s five half-siblings currently are dependents of the juvenile court and mother failed to comply with prior court orders regarding individual counseling.[1]

Maribel T. initially was placed in foster care. Father complied with all court orders, attended NA/AA and visited regularly. On March 29, 2000, father was granted overnight weekend visits and on May 11, 2000, the juvenile court ordered Maribel T. placed in father's home. Mother reportedly was in Mexico and had not visited Maribel T. since October of 1999. Maribel T. remained in father's care for the next year.