In each state, there are laws about the logistics of terminating parental rights. If a parent is not fit for the job of raising a child, or is deemed an unsafe parent by the government, then he or she may need to relinquish his or her rights to the child. Some parents who are single, young, or impoverished may voluntarily terminate their parental rights so that they don't need to take on the financial or time-consuming responsibility of a child.
States have different grounds for termination, but in general states will look at the child's best interests when deciding if a parent has the right to give up their rights for the child. If the child has been abused, the government may pull a child out of the home voluntarily and make that child a ward of the state. Most of the time, states will list grounds for the termination of rights. These can include severe abuse or neglect, abandonment, failure to support a child financially, failure to maintain contact with a child, or a long-term mental illness of the parent. Also, if a parent has long-term alcohol or drug-induced capacity then this can also be grounds for terminating parental rights.
Courts will also allow a parent to end their responsibilities with a child if they have been convicted of a serious felony, especially for a violent crime against a family member. Whenever a parent is convicted and this will have a negative impact on the child, the courts may decide to put the child in a foster care home as a result. Some states are more lenient to remove children from their homes, while other states will allow parents to relinquish their responsibility whenever it would benefit the child to be in a different living situation. If you want more information about terminating parental rights, then you need to contact a Los Angeles family attorney today for more information.
