In the interest of E. G. L. B. et al., children.

There was not clear and convincing evidence supporting the juvenile court's order terminating father's parental rights to his two minor children and the Court of Appeals thus vacated the order.

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Dillard, Chief Judge.

The father of E. G. L. B. and I. N. R. B., two minor children, appeals from the juvenile court’s order terminating his parental rights.^{^[1]} In doing so, he contends that (1) there is insufficient evidence that the children’s dependent status is likely to continue, that the children’s continued dependency is likely to cause serious physical, mental, or emotional harm, or that termination of his parental rights was in the children’s best interest; (2) he was deprived of due process throughout the juvenile-court proceedings; and (3) the juvenile court erred in denying his motion to dismiss under OCGA § 15-11-301. For the reasons set forth infra, we vacate the judgment and remand the case for additional proceedings consistent with this opinion.On appeal, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the juvenile court’s disposition to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found by clear and convincing evidence that the father’s parental rights should have been terminated.^{^[2]} Nonetheless, as we have repeatedly emphasized,this deferential standard of review is tempered by the fact that there is no judicial determination which has more drastic significance than that of permanently severing a natural parentchild relationship. It must be scrutinized deliberately and exercised most cautiously. The right to raise one’s children is a fiercely guarded right in our society and law, and a right that should be infringed upon only under the most compelling circumstances.^{^[3]}

In the interest of E. G. L. B. et al., children.

There was not clear and convincing evidence supporting the juvenile court's order terminating father's parental rights to his two minor children and the Court of Appeals thus vacated the order.

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