Terminating parental rights can be difficult without substantial evidence. Unfortunately, there are some cases where a child’s co-parent has abandoned or neglected them and is no longer in the picture. There are other cases where one parent is afraid that the other parent will cause harm to their child, and no longer wants the child to be around that parent. Sometimes, a parent may have simply moved on with another partner and no longer want their ex in the picture.
Difficulty terminating rights
It is very difficult to actually terminate rights of your co-parent without clear evidence that your child is in danger. Once the co-parents rights are officially terminated, there is no way to give them back. Since a child’s well-being is directly affected to the bond with their parent, the law always errs on the side of caution. There are a few instances where a parent’s rights could be terminated, and these include:
- Neglect or abandonment
- Risk of serious bodily harm
- Mental or emotional injury
Contested hearings
It is common for the co-parent who is being brought before the court to contest the termination, as they do not want their rights with their child taken away. If the parent on trial would like to fight the termination, it is within their rights to have a hearing scheduled specifically for them to present evidence against the termination.
It is important for you to also be prepared for the court to appoint a guardian ad litem to be the advocate for your child. If this happens, the guardian ad litem will only be responsible for answering the court.
We can help with Parental Rights Issues
It is difficult to navigate termination rights, and we understand. We have years of experience in child paternity cases helping parents get what is best for their children when it comes to the law.
CONTACT US to schedule a Free Consultation today and we can help ensure your parental rights and your child’s safety is protected.