If you are a parent concerned about your child’s safety or stability because of the other parent’s actions or absence, you may be considering whether termination of their parental rights is possible. While this is a serious legal step, there are situations where protecting your child may require it.
Understanding the legal grounds for filing a petition can help you make informed decisions. Here are four circumstances where courts may consider terminating a parent’s rights.
1. Abandonment of the child
If the other parent has not contacted your child for six months or more despite having the ability to do so, that may be considered abandonment. This includes no communication, no visits and no involvement in the child’s life. In some cases, even if their location is unknown or they left the child with someone else and did not return, it may still meet the legal definition of abandonment.
2. Chronic abuse or neglect
When a parent has repeatedly abused, neglected or shown cruelty toward your child, this can be a valid reason to seek termination. If they have been investigated or convicted of serious mistreatment, and the situation has not improved over time, the court may see continued involvement as a risk to your child’s well-being.
3. Serious criminal convictions involving children
If the other parent has been convicted of crimes such as murder, manslaughter or assault involving your child or another child, the court may allow you to move forward with a termination petition. These convictions demonstrate behavior that threatens your child’s safety and future.
4. Failure to correct unsafe conditions
In cases where a child has been removed from the other parent’s care, the law gives them time to make necessary changes. But if they fail to provide a safe and stable home even after support services are offered, it may support a petition. Long-term instability is not considered healthy for your child’s development.
If you believe one of these circumstances applies to your family, seeking legal guidance can help you understand the process and whether termination is appropriate for your situation.