IN THE JUVENILE COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY STATE OF ­­­­­GEORGIA IN THE INTEREST OF: I.B. SEX: M DOB: 06/10/2023 CASE# 2500019 Minor Child Under the Age of 18. NOTICE OF SUMMONS TO: SHATERRIA LAFAY BEST, IVORY EUGENE BELL, and Any Unknown biological/legal/putative father of the above-named child born to Mother, SHATERRIA LAFAY BEST. L.B. was born at the East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Swainsboro, Georgia. You are hereby notified that the above-styled action has been brought by the Jefferson County Department of Family and Children Services, and the Georgia Department of Human Services, seeking to terminate your parental rights with regard to the above referenced child; that said action has been filed in the Juvenile Court of Jefferson County, Georgia; and that by reason of an Order for Service of Summons by Publication dated_______________________, you are hereby notified that you may obtain a copy of the petition from the Clerk of the Juvenile Court of Jefferson County, Georgia and may file with the Clerk of said Court and serve upon Marnique Oliver, Petitioner's Attorney, whose mailing address is P.O. Box 308, 115 S. Racetrack Street, Sandersville, Georgia, 30401, an answer to the petition at any time prior to the Final Hearing. You are hereby commanded and required to appear before this court on the 17th day of December, 2025 at the JEFFERSON County Courthouse in Louisville, Georgia at 10:00 a.m., for a FINAL HEARING and show cause, if any you have, why the relief requested in the petition should not be granted. You are hereby commanded and required to appear before this Court at said final hearing or the findings of the Court will be made the permanent order of this Court in the above case. You must attend the final hearing in order to preserve your rights. At the final hearing you will be given an opportunity to show cause, if any you have, why the relief requested in the petition should not be granted. Prior to the Final Hearing a Provisional Hearing on the petition will be held before the Court on _December 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in the Juvenile Court of JEFFERSON County at the Jefferson County Courthouse, LOUISVILLE, Georgia. The parties notified hereby are entitled to legal counsel in the proceedings, and the Court will appoint legal counsel if any party should be unable, without undue hardship, to employ counsel. You are further notified that you will lose all rights to the child and will not be entitled to object to the termination of your rights to the child unless, within thirty days of receipt of this notice, you file: (a) A petition to legitimate the child pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 19-7-22; and (b) Notice of the filing of the petition to legitimate with the Jefferson County Juvenile Court. The Findings of Fact and Order of Disposition made at the Provisional Hearing will become final at the Final Hearing unless the party served by publication appears at the Final Hearing. If the party served by publication fails to appear at the Final Hearing on the petition, the Findings of Fact and Interlocutory Orders made will become final without further evidence and will be governed by the Juvenile Court Code as if made at the Final Hearing. If the party served by publication appears at the Final Hearing, the Interlocutory findings and Orders shall be vacated and disregarded, and the hearing shall proceed upon the allegations of the motion. The parties notified hereby are entitled to legal counsel in the proceedings, and the Court will appoint legal counsel if any party should be unable, without undue hardship, to employ counsel. A copy of this petition may be obtained at no charge from the Office of the Clerk of Court between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. WITNESS, the Honorable Sherri McDonald, Judge of said Juvenile Court. This ________ day of ___________________, 2025. ______________________________ Clerk, Jefferson County Juvenile Court Publication Dates LGSC0382207