Generally, the courts prefer to not terminate someone’s parental rights unless there is another person standing by to “fill” the shoes of that parent such as with a stepparent adoption. If the biological parent whose rights we are seeking to terminate is not willing to waive his or her parental rights, we must then proceed with a hearing. To terminate a parent’s rights, we must produce evidence demonstrating that the parent is unfit or unable to provide for or care for the child due to substance abuse, non-support, prison, mental illness, criminal activity, child abuse or neglect.

For more information on termination of parental rights, please contact Rutherford Robertson, P.A. and schedule your confidential consultation today.