In re T.W.

<bold>Termination of Parental Rights — failure to appoint</bold> <bold>guardian ad litem to parent — mental illness</bold> <block_quote> The trial court erred in a termination of parental rights case by failing to appoint respondent mother a guardian ad litem under N.C.G.S. § <cross_reference>7B-1111</cross_reference>(a)(6) when she has a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder with possible psychotic disorder, because: (1) the trial court referenced respondent's mental wellbeing<page_number>Page 154</page_number> and its concern that respondent was unable to raise the minor children without assistance repeatedly in its written orders before and after receiving respondent's psychological evaluations; (2) it was the court's repeated findings that respondent was incapable of parenting her minor children based upon her mental illness in addition to respondent's own motion that triggered the requirement for appointment of a guardian ad litem; and (3) while respondent may be competent for some purposes, including her ability to assist counsel and maintain employment, it does not necessarily follow that she is not debilitated by her mental illness when it comes to parenting her children.</block_quote> <bold>2. Termination of Parental Rights — extraordinary</bold> <bold>delay in entering order — prejudicial error</bold> <block_quote> The trial court erred in a termination of parental rights case by delaying entry of an order until almost one year after completion of the hearing even though N.C.G.S. §§ <cross_reference>7B-1109</cross_reference>(e) and <cross_reference>7B-1110</cross_reference>(a) set the deadline no later than thirty days following the completion of the hearing, and the case is reversed, because: (1) the Court of Appeals has been apt to find prejudice in delays more than six months or more; (2) the need to show prejudice diminishes as the delay between the termination hearing and the date of entry of the order terminating parental rights increase