Termination of Parental Rights in Texas

There are many issues in the State of Texas when it comes to parental rights. Unplanned pregnancies are not too rare, and a father may discover that he is not the generic father of a child and may decide to stop paying child support. Additionally, sometimes, a parent is simply in no place to have a child. In these situations and others like them, a parent may decide to terminate parental rights to avoid paying child support.

These types of issues can happen as individual suits or as part of an adoption hearing. During adoption proceedings, a parent can choose to give up their parental rights or the court orders that the first parent’s rights are terminated. Even if a parent does not voluntarily terminate their parental rights, there might still be grounds for the termination of their parental rights.

Ways to Terminate Parental Rights

In Texas, there are two avenues for terminating child support:

• Voluntary termination: Refers to the scenario where a parent agrees to the termination. The parent will sign adequate paperwork reflecting the decision, and then will appear in court to testify that he or she is voluntarily giving up the rights to the child. Voluntary termination of parental rights can also also be used for children who are adopted.
• Involuntary termination: Parent’s rights are terminated without the parent’s agreement. There are many factors that can result in involuntary termination, such as abandonment, neglect, nonsupport, and no contact with the child.

Reasons For Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights

There are numerous types of parental behavior that result in the termination of parental rights. Here are some of the common reasons that can lead to termination of parental rights:

• Abuse or neglect
• Criminally responsible for the serious injury or death of a child
• Parental abandonment
• Refusing to support the child properly

Please keep in mind that this is simply an overview of parental rights laws in Texas. For more information on the termination of parental rights, contact The Fetty Firm today. Additionally, you can reach Rashelle Fetty and The Ferry Firm by calling (214) 546-5746. Furthermore, visit our website for more information on the termination of parental rights. We look forward to hearing from you. Together, we’ll find a comprehensive resolution to your particular case.