Legal Definitions - termination of parental rights

Termination of parental rights is a legal process where a parent's rights, privileges, and responsibilities regarding their child are legally ended. This means that the parent is no longer legally recognized as the child's parent and has no say in the child's life.

Termination of parental rights is usually done when the parent is deemed unfit or unable to care for the child. This can be due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Once the parent's rights are terminated, the child is free to be adopted by someone else.

For example, if a parent has a history of drug abuse and neglects their child, the court may decide to terminate their parental rights. This would allow the child to be adopted by a family who can provide a safe and stable home.

Another example is if a parent abandons their child and does not provide any financial or emotional support. In this case, the court may also decide to terminate their parental rights so that the child can be adopted by a family who can provide the care and support they need.