Termination of Parental Rights

Reach Out to Our Jacksonville Child Custody & Adoption Lawyer for Legal Help

In certain instances, a parent may be required or requested to terminate his or her parental rights. This often occurs when a parent has failed to provide the required level of support to a child or when an adoption is underway. In some cases, a parent may wish to terminate his or her parental rights voluntarily. In any case, this can be a sensitive and complex situation; it’s best to work with a knowledgeable attorney if you are seeking termination of parental rights.

Contact The Trevor J. Avery Law Firm at (910) 405-8459 to speak to a child custody and adoption lawyer in Jacksonville, NC about terminating parental rights.

Protecting the Best Interests of the Child

As in most family law matters, the state of North Carolina always prioritizes what it considers to be the “best interests of the child” when terminating parental rights. In most cases, a parent may not sign away his or her rights with the exception of signing a voluntary consent form or relinquishment of parental rights during an adoption.

In North Carolina, the grounds for termination of parental rights are as follows:

• The child was neglected or abused by the parent
• The child was willfully abandoned by the parent
• The parent is not capable of caring for the child
• The child was born to unmarried parents and the father did not legitimate the child
• The parent did not pay child support for at least one year (with some exceptions)

Note that this list is not exhaustive; there are other circumstances outlined under North Carolina law that may result in grounds for termination of parental rights.

Contact Our Firm for Experienced Legal Guidance

Whether you are seeking to have parental rights terminated for a child or have had a petition brought to terminate your parental rights, The Trevor J. Avery Law Firm can help. We assist biological parents, adoptive parents, prospective guardians, and other parties in all types of termination of parental rights issues in North Carolina. Our child custody and adoption attorney can help you work to protect your rights and defend the best interests of your child.

Please call (910) 405-8459 or submit an online contact form to request a confidential consultation.