Termination

A DIFFICULT DECISION BASED ON COST AND FINALITY,
HOWEVER, FAILING TO TERMINATE MAY RESULT IN A NIGHTMARE
FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILD IN THE FUTURE

Commonly, a parent seeks to terminate the parental rights of an absent parent.  Arizona law requires abandonment, absent abuse or neglect, to terminate a biological parent’s rights.  "Abandonment" means the failure of a parent to provide reasonable support and to maintain regular contact with the child, including providing normal supervision. Abandonment includes a judicial finding that a parent has made only minimal efforts to support and communicate with the child. Failure to maintain a normal parental relationship with the child without just cause for a period of six months constitutes prima facie evidence of abandonment.

Arizona law requires a home study in the matter be conducted and a report submitted to the Court by a licensed adoption agency.  The Court must be notified of the agency you have selected.

Termination of parental rights may benefit both Mother and Father in the situation of step-parent adoption.  See our link for step-parent adoptions for further information.

Perhaps the greatest benefit for the custodial parent and child, is preventing the horrendous and expensive consequences of an absent parent appearing years later demanding and receiving the right to exercise parental rights.
Absent parent beware, termination of your parental rights does not, in most cases, release you from current and future obligations to support the child.  Nor does it release you from past child support arrears.  If your child is being adopted by a step-parent, now is the time to attempt to negotiate your child support arrears to zero.