Before an adoption can occur, the legal parents’ parental rights must be terminated if they are unable or unwilling to sign a consent for the adoption. Filing Petitions to Terminate Parental Rights is a significant part of our practice. We do this for many different types of cases.
Two common examples are
Common reasons for termination of parental rights (i.e., a severance matter) are abandonment, abuse or neglect, significant substance or alcohol abuse, a significant mental illness that prevents a parent from normal parental duties, or long periods of incarceration for a felony. Pursuant to Arizona law, “Any person… that has a legitimate interest in the welfare of a child…may file a petition for termination of the parent-child relationship alleging grounds continued in subsection B of this section.” A.R.S. §8-533(a).
At least one of the grounds for termination found in A.R.S. §8-533(b) must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. Additionally, the petitioner must also prove that the termination of parental rights is in the best interests of the child, by a preponderance of the evidence. A.R.S. §8-533(B). Proving one of the grounds (for example abandonment) requires very different evidence than what is required to prove that the termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interests. Sometimes what the Chandler AZ court is looking for in the evidence to find that the termination is in the child’s best interest is very different than what the petitioner believes is sufficient to show best interests. Additionally, because judges in Chandler AZ have a lot of discretion in making their findings, it is important to hire a Termination of Parental Rights Attorney in Chandler who is familiar with the local juvenile court judges and what they are looking for in these cases.
These are difficult and highly technical cases, and many of the clients that want to terminate parental rights do not know what evidence would be relevant to such a proceeding. Speaking to an attorney with experience in the termination of parental rights cases prior to filing a severance petition can save you a significant amount of time and expense.
We’re open: Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm
For additional questions, you can call us at; +14806322083 or you can find us on Yelp.
Located On Dobson Road, just North of W. Chandler Blvd, near the 101 Freeway. We have a team of the Best Divorce Lawyers and Family Law Attorneys in Chandler Arizona. Our Chandler Law Firm offers Divorce Mediation, Uncontested Divorce, Contested Divorce, Legal Separation, Female Divorce Lawyers, Annulment, Child Support Issues, Child Custody, Military Divorce, Parenting Plans, Prenuptial Agreements, Postnuptial Agreements, Grandparents Rights, Paternity, Order of Protection, Name Change and all Family Law legal issues.
Genesis Family Law and Divorce Lawyers in Chandler AZ
333 N. Dobson Rd #5
Chandler, AZ 85224
(480) 632-2083
https://familylawattorneymesaaz.net/chandler
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