Few situations are as painful as that of a child who must lose their relationship with a natural parent. However, sometimes termination of parental rights is inevitable and necessary to protect the child and provide them with a stable, secure home. Circumstances like violence, substance abuse, and extreme neglect can affect child custody, and may lead to the loss of parental rights. In some cases, a parent may voluntarily terminate their parental rights when their child is up for adoption. This may be a step towards bringing a new parent into a child’s life, which can be a happy change for the child. A termination of parental rights lawyer can assist with coordinating these changes.
On the other hand, in some cases, a loving and committed parent may face false allegations of child abuse or neglect when a malicious ex-spouse attempts to undermine their relationship with the child.
Whether you are pursuing or defending against termination of parental rights in North Carolina, you can trust our skilled lawyers to speak on your behalf and protect your rights. Contact us at Speaks Law Firm, PC Family Law Division today to schedule a case review.
Contact us today to schedule a case review if:
Common grounds for terminating parental rights in NC include:
Additionally, a parent may willingly accept termination of their own parental rights if they have chosen to give their child up for adoption.
After a North Carolina court receives a termination of parental rights petition, the court will schedule a hearing that includes two stages:
If the child has no parent or guardian to take care of them, the child will typically go to foster care. The state must usually file a petition before placing a child in foster care, except in cases of abandoned infants, children who have spent at least 15 out of the past 22 months in foster care, children whose parent(s) committed severe felony assaults upon the child or one of their other children, or children whose parent(s) murdered another of their children.
A skilled North Carolina family lawyer can help you source and present the relevant evidence for your termination of parental rights case. Contact our legal team today to schedule a case review.
The following parties can file a petition for the termination of parental rights in NC:
Whether you are a family member or guardian who is preparing to file a petition to terminate parental rights in North Carolina or a parent seeking to defend your parental rights against termination, we can help.
Our dedicated team of family law attorneys will be the voice that speaks for you, representing your interests throughout every step of your termination of parental rights case. We’re here to provide trusted legal counsel, to protect your rights, and to help you handle all the legal hurdles you may face in the course of addressing this matter.
Contact us at Speaks Law Firm, PC Family Law Division today to schedule a case review with our parental rights lawyer team in the Wilmington, NC area.
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