NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE COUNTY OF CLEVELAND DISTRICT COURT DIVISION 21 JT 112 IN RE: N.G. (D.O.B.: 04/15/2012) NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION FOR PARENTAL RIGHTS TERMINATION PROCEEDINGS TO: The putative father, Christopher Michael Guffey of the female child, N.G. born to mother Crystal Hughes on April 15, 2012. TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS YOU ARE REQUIRED to answer the petition within (40) days after August 24, 2025, exclusive of that date, which is October 3, 2025. Upon your failure to answer the petition within the time prescribed, your parental rights to the child may be terminated. Also take notice that (1) If you are an indigent parent and is not already represented by appointed counsel, then you are entitled to appointed counsel, and that provisional counsel has been appointed, and that the appointment of provisional counsel shall be reviewed by the Court at the first hearing after service; (2) this is a new case, and any attorney previously appointed will not be your attorney or represent you in this proceeding unless ordered by the Court; (3) notice of the date, time and place of the hearing will be mailed to you by the Clerk of Court upon filing of the Answer or forty (40) days from the date of services of this Summons if no answer is filed; (4) the purpose of the hearing is to terminate the parental rights to the above-named child; (5) the parents have a right to attend the hearing. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than October 3, 2025. Said date being forty (40) days from the first publication of this notice; upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This is the 18th of August, 2025. Bryan M. Clausing Attorney for the Department of Social Services PO Drawer 9006 Shelby, NC 28151 3T: August 24, August 31, September 7, 2025 August 31, September 7 2025 LWLM0359918