Terminating Parental Rights in West Chester PA
Sometimes drastic measures have to be made for the sake of your child. Speak to attorney Joshua Janis if you need to file a Petition to Terminate Parental Rights in Chester County or the greater Philadelphia area. In Pennsylvania, a custodial parent can file a private termination petition after six months of abandonment of the child. The absent or unfit parent is notified and a hearing date set. If that parent consents or fails to show up at the hearing, a Petition to Confirm Consent or Petition to Terminate Rights is entered and an adoption hearing can be immediately conducted. This process eliminates the possibility of a parent resurfacing years later to assert his or her parental rights.
If the parent contests the termination, a hearing is set and litigation commences. The court will investigate and consider many factors:
- Did the parent have any contact or provide any support?
- Was he or she thwarted in trying to have contact?
- What would be the psychological impact on the child?
- Is there evidence of drug use, or physical or sexual abuse?
Learn more about the steps involved in filing a termination petition. Speak to West Chester PA family lawyer, Joshua Janis for reasonable legal advise and representation. Our team can work one-on-one with you to take the necessary steps that could lead to adoption and a better way of life for your child.
We serve Chester County, Delaware County, Lancaster County, Montgomery County, Downingtown, Paoli, Media, Norristown, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon, Reading and Allentown. For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced Pennsylvania Family Law Attorney at Ciccarelli Lawyers, by contacting us at (610) 925-2500 or toll free at (877) 529-2422.
