and of the consequences of their actions under section 12 of this chapter; and
(3) the parents failed to appear.
Thus, under this statute, when a parent executes a written consent to the voluntary termination of her parental rights and appears in open court to acknowledge her consent to the termination, that consent will be deemed valid. See Neal, 796 N.E.2d at 285 (holding that "(al parent's written consent to the voluntary termination of her parental rights is invalid unless she appears in open court to acknowledge her consent to the termination. ...").
Another provision of the statute dealing with the voluntary termination of the parent-child relationship provides:
For purposes of sections 6 and 8 of this chapter, the parents must be advised that:
(1) their consent is permanent and can- . not be revoked or set aside unless it was obtained by fraud or duress or unless the parent is incompetent;
(8) the parents will receive notice of the hearing at which the court will decide if their consent, was voluntary, and the parents may appear at the hearing and allege that the consent was not voluntary.
Ind.Code § 81-85-1-12. "[A] parent's ability to withdraw [her] consent to the termination of [her] parental rights is extremely limited." In re J.W.W.R., 712 N.E.2d 1081, 1085 (Ind.Ct.App.1999), trans. denied, abrogated on other grounds by Neal, 796 N.E.2d at 280. "A parent who executes a voluntary relinquishment of parental rights is bound by the consequences of such action, unless the relinquishment was procured by fraud, undue influence, duress, or other consent-vitiating factors." In re M.R., 728 N.E.2d 204, 209 (Ind.Ct.App.2000) (citation omitted), trans. denied. "If there is any competent evidence of probative value that[:] (1) fraud or duress was present when the written consent was given; or (2) a parent was incompetent[,] the [trial] court shall dismiss the petition or continue the proceeding." Ind.Code § 31-35-1-7(c).
Here, in November 2004, Mother appeared with counsel at a termination hearing, notified the trial court that she intended to consent to the termination of her parental rights, and thereafter signed a consent to voluntarily relinquish her parental rights to A.Y., which was notarized by her attorney. The trial court terminated Mother's parental rights to A.Y., and one month later, Mother petitioned the trial court set aside her consent to terminate parental rights because her consent was not voluntary. After a holding a hearing on the matter, the trial court denied Mother's petition.
On appeal, Mother argues that the trial court erred by denying her petition to set aside her consent to terminate her parental rights because her consent was obtained by fraud or duress and because she was incompetent. We will address each argument in turn.
1. Fraud
Mother contends that her written consent to voluntarily terminate her parental rights to A.Y. was obtained by fraud because she believed that she would be able to see AY. or get her back if she consented to the termination and because she was "mislead [sic] into believing a voluntary termination was something that it was not." Appellant's Brief at 6; Appellant's Reply Brief at 2. The elements of actual fraud are: (1) material representation of past or existing facts by the party to be charged; (2) which was false; (8)