The Chancery Court granted a default judgment against the father in a petition to terminate parental rights involving Jeremy Amos but reserved the final finding of termination pending the scheduled hearing involving the child’s mother.

Counsel for the petitioning party confirmed the petition sought termination of parental rights for both Jeremy Amos and Tiffany Hillier Amos and that no response had been filed on behalf of the father. Counsel stated the father “is currently incarcerated,” and in court discussion provided differing references to the length of that incarceration: counsel first referenced “30 years,” and later described it as a “combined sentence of 24.”

Judge David D. Wolfe granted default against the respondent father but said he would “reserve the finding of termination” until the mother’s hearing, explaining the court’s reluctance to terminate one parent’s rights without addressing the other party’s case. Counsel and the court discussed amending the order as needed and scheduling a combined final hearing.

The record shows the minor child has been in the petitioner’s care for approximately 2½ to about 3 years, and counsel noted no recent child-support payments or visits by the father before incarceration.

The court’s ruling at this appearance grants default for lack of a response by the father and sets further proceedings so the mother’s matter may be heard before any final termination is entered.