Legal Representation in Termination of Parental Rights Matters
A Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) is a legal action that terminates all of a parents rights to make decisions for a child or to care for that child, rendering the child free to be legally adopted by someone other than their biological parent. When parental rights are terminated. it means you cannot make decisions about your children and you usually cannot contact or communicate with your children until they are 18 years old. Sometimes if your child is with a relative, foster parent or adoptive parent, that person will agree to let you communicate with your child.
The process of terminating parental rights may be voluntary or involuntary and can be extremely complex. Since parents are often pressured into relinquishing their rights based on allegations of abuse, neglect or abandonment, and the consequences of terminating the parent-child relationship are significant and long lasting, Minnesota and Wisconsin courts take termination proceedings quite seriously. A parent should never enter into such proceedings unrepresented. The Minnesota and Wisconsin termination of parental rights lawyers at Chmielewski Law Office can help. Call us toll-free at 866-446-6529.
Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights
Under Minnesota law and Wisconsin law, a parent who wants to terminate his or her parental rights may do so by providing written consent by filing certain documents with the county court. However, even if both parents are in agreement, a judge still has discretion to determine whether parental rights are being terminated for good cause. Judges are reluctant to terminate parental rights unless a fit parent is ready and willing to adopt the child simultaneous to the termination. If the custodial parent is not in favor of termination, it is highly unlikely that the voluntary termination will be granted.
Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights
Compelling evidence is required for an involuntary parental rights termination. Situations involving an involuntary termination may include abandonment, failure to provide financial support to the child, failure to provide parental support to the child, mental illness, unfit parents, if the parent has significant and repeatedly harmed the child, or upon receiving certain criminal convictions. Parents are afforded every opportunity to demonstrate their fitness to raise the child at trial (also called a fact-finding or evidentiary hearing) before their rights to the child are terminated.
Why Do I Need Chmielewski Law Office at My Termination Hearing?
The Minnesota and Wisconsin termination of parental rights lawyers at Chmielewski Law Office can help with the following:
- Work to obtain a suspended judgment and create a realistic plan to have your children returned to you.
- Navigate the county, state and federal laws to win a Minnesota voluntary termination of parental rights and Wisconsin voluntary termination of parental rights.
- Demand adherence and enforcement of state and administrative laws and operating polices on state employees involved in your TPR or adoption case.
- Develop the evidentiary exhibit and witness file in support of the child's best interests argument and represent you in front of the judge at the TPR and adoption trial.
- Draft and file an appeal of the order terminating your rights to have the order reviewed by a higher court.
If you want to permanently remove a child from a home or are facing attempts to terminate your parental rights in Minnesota or Wisconsin and have your child removed from you, you need good legal advice and representation. To speak with a knowledgeable TPR lawyer, contact Chmielewski Law Office at our Woodbury, Minnesota office or call toll-free at 866-446-6529 to schedule a free initial consultation.
