IN THE JUVENILE COURT OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA IN THE INTEREST OF: C.M.W., SEX: Male; DOB: 08/12/2017 Minor Child under 18 years of age. NOTICE OF SUMMONS PETITION TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS TO: Ateria Eshawn Walker, mother of C.M.W., a male child born on 08/12/2017. You are hereby notified that the above styled action seeking to terminate your parental rights and place custody of said child with the Georgia Department of Human Services, acting through the Effingham County Department of Family and Children Services, was filed in said Court on March 21, 2024, and that by reason of Order for Service by Publication, entered by the Court on April 12, 2024, you are hereby commanded and required to file with the Clerk of said Court and serve upon Jennifer C. Mock, Attorney for Petitioner, whose address is P.O. Box 159, 326 South Main Street, Statesboro, Georgia 30459 an answer to the petition within 30 (thirty) days of May 24, 2024. A copy of the petition is attached to this summons or, if this summons is served by publication, can be obtained from the Clerk of this Court during business hours. Final hearing in this matter is scheduled for 1:00 o'clock p.m. on the 15th day of July, 2024 in a courtroom of the Effingham County Courthouse, Springfield, Georgia. This is a summons requiring you to be in Court. If you fail to come to Court as required, you may be held in Contempt of Court and punished accordingly. Now, therefore, you the party named above, are commanded to be and appear on the date and time stated herein and to remain in attendance from hour to hour, day to day, month to month, year to year, and time to time, as said case may be continued, and until discharged by the Court, and you are commanded to lay any and all other business aside and to be and appear before the Juvenile Court of Effingham County, Georgia. In accordance with O.C.G.A. SS 15-11-96(b) you are hereby notified that this proceeding and the hearing(s) specified herein is for the purpose of terminating your parental rights. READ CAREFULLY: If you fail to appear, the court can terminate your parental rights in your absence. If the court at the trial finds that the facts set out in the petition to terminate parental rights are true and that termination of your rights will serve the best interests of your child, the Court can enter a judgment ending your rights to your child. If the judgment terminates your parental rights, you will no longer have any rights to your child. This means that you will not have the right to visit, contact, or have custody of your child or make any decisions affecting your child or your child's earnings or property. Your child will be legally freed to be adopted by someone else. Even if your parental rights are terminated: (1) You will be responsible for providing financial support (child support payments) for your child's care unless and until your child are adopted; and (2) Your child can still inherit from you unless and until your child is adopted. This Summons requires you to be present at a formal hearing in the Juvenile Court. The children or other parties involved may be represented by a lawyer at all stages of these proceedings. If you want a lawyer, you may choose and hire your own lawyer. If you want to hire a lawyer, please contact your lawyer immediately. If you want a lawyer but are not able to hire a lawyer without undue financial hardship, you may ask for a lawyer to be appointed to represent you. The Court would inquire into your financial circumstances and if the Court finds you to be financially unable to hire a lawyer, then a lawyer will be appointed to represent you. If you want a lawyer appointed to represent you, you must let the Court or the officer of this Court handling this case know that you want a lawyer immediately. WITNESS, the Honorable Donald Sheppard, Judge of said Court. This 16th day of April. /s/ Jason Bragg Clerk, Juvenile Court, Effingham County, Georgia 20225 5/15/24 RL