NOTICE OF SUMMONS AND TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS HEARING

NOTICE OF SUMMONS AND TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS HEARING IN THE JUVENILE COURT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA IN THE INTEREST OF: H.M. CASE NO.: 029-25-0651 SEX: FEMALE DOB: 09/07/2024 A Child Under the Age of Eighteen TO: Shatequa Mattox, Andrew Cole, and any biological or legal father, known or unknown, named or unnamed, of the child, H.M., whose mother is Shatequa Mattox. By order for service by publication dated November 4, 2025, you are hereby notified that the Georgia Department of Human Services' Division of Family and Children Services, by and through the Clarke County Department of Family and Children Services, filed a Petition for Termination of Parental Rights on October 17, 2025, against you as to H.M. (hereinafter referred to as the "Petition"). A copy of the Petition can be obtained from the Clarke County Clerk of Juvenile Court. YOU ARE COMMANDED AND REQUIRED to appear before the Juvenile Court of Clarke County, Georgia, at the Clarke County Courthouse, 325 E. Washington Street, Rm 115, Athens, Georgia 30601, on January 14, 2026 at 9:00 o'clock A.M. The hearing is for the purpose of determining whether or not your parental rights to the above listed child(ren) should be terminated. All findings shall become final at the scheduled hearing, unless you appear for the hearing. 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 are true and that termination of your rights will serve the best interests of your child(ren), the court can enter a judgment ending your rights to your child(ren). If the judgment terminates your parental rights, you will no longer have any rights to your child(ren). This means that you will not have the right to visit, contact, or have custody of your child(ren) or make any decisions affecting your child(ren) or your child(ren)'s earnings or property. Your child(ren) will be legally freed to be adopted by someone else. Even if your parental rights are terminated: (1) You will still be responsible for providing financial support (child support payments) for your child's care unless and until your child is adopted; and (2) Your child can still inherit from you unless and until your child is adopted. The putative/biological father is hereby placed on notice that pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 15-11-283 that he may lose all rights to the above named child(ren) and will not be allowed to object to the termination of his rights to such child(ren) unless, within 30 days of receipt of notice, you file a petition to legitimate the child(ren) as well as a notice of the filing of the petition to legitimate with the court in which the termination proceeding is pending. Additionally, the court may enter an order terminating all the parental rights of a biological father, including the right to object thereafter to such proceedings if the putative/biological father fails to timely legitimate the child(ren) named above. This is a very serious matter. You should contact an attorney immediately so that you can be prepared for the court hearing. You have the right to hire an attorney and to have him or her represent you. If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, the Court will appoint an attorney if the Court finds that you are an indigent person. Whether or not you decide to hire an attorney, you have the right to attend the hearing of your case, to call witnesses on your behalf, and to question those witnesses brought against you. If you have any questions concerning this notice, you may call the telephone number of the Clarke County Clerk's Office, which is 706-613-3300. WITNESS the Honorable Amanda Trimble, Judge, Juvenile Courts. This 10th day of November, 2025. /s/ Wanda Sanders Clerk, Juvenile Court of Clarke County, Georgia Publication Dates LGSC0406099