NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION State of North Carolina County of Gaston In The General Court of Justice District Court Division File No.: 25-JT-66 In The Matter of B.L.D., a minor male child, DOB: 10/20/2019, Lincoln County, North Carolina To: HUNTER ALLEN DEERING, the Father of B.L.D. TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-entitled juvenile action. The nature of the relief being sought is the termination of your parental rights in and to Minor Boy, B.L.D., born on or about October 20, 2019, in Lincoln County, North Carolina. A court order from the District Court of Gaston County directing that service of process on you take place by publication was entered on September 12, 2025. You must answer or otherwise respond to the pleading within thirty (30) days of the date of first publication of this Notice stated below. If you fail to answer or otherwise respond within the time prescribed, your parental rights in and to the juvenile referred to above will be terminated. If you are indigent and not already represented by appointed counsel, you are entitled to appointed counsel in this matter, and to that end, provisional counsel has been appointed for you in this matter, and that the appointment of provisional counsel shall be reviewed (including the issue of whether to release such provisional counsel if you do not appear) by the court at the first hearing after service of process in this matter. You are advised to IMMEDIATELY contact the Clerk of Court of Gaston County, North Carolina at (704) 852-3100, to obtain further information about this case, including a copy of the pleading filed herein, the date(s) of scheduled hearings. First published this 3rd day of October, 2025. N. Clifton Cannon, Jr. Attorney for Petitioner 355 S. New Hope Road, Suite B Post Office Box 551154 Gastonia, North Carolina 28055 Phone: 704-867-9070 IPL0278327 Oct 3,10,17 2025