In the Interest of D. C.

The biological father of four-year-old D. C. and two-year-old A. C. appeals from the trial court’s order terminating his parental rights. He contends that the trial court erred by finding he was not married to the children’s mother by common law and by denying his motion for a continuance. We find no merit in these contentions and affirm. The standard of review on appeal from a termination of parental rights is whether, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the appellee, any rational trier of fact could have found by clear and convincing evidence that the natural parent’s right to custody should be terminated. In the Interest of L. F. , 203 Ga. App. 522 417 SE2d 344 1992. On appeal, “this Court neither weighs evidence nor determines the credibility of witnesses; rather, we defer to the trial court’s factfinding and affirm unless the appellate standard is not met.” Citation and punctuation omitted. In the Interest of R. N. , 224 Ga. App. 202 480 SE2d 243 1997.

Viewed in this light, the record shows that the Haralson County Department of Family and Children Services DFACS petitioned the juvenile court to terminate the biological father’s parental rights to D. C. and A. C. following his conviction for molesting another child living in the home. In its petition, DFACS asserted that the biological father was not the legal father1 of the children and that he had failed to legitimate them. It also warned the father, pursuant to OCGA § 15-11-96 h, that he must file a petition to legitimate the children within 30 days or lose his right to object to the termination of his parental rights.