This is the first post in a series of articles about terminating parental rights in Melbourne, Florida. Seeking to terminate one’s parental rights is a very serious matter. As such, a Florida court will only terminate the rights of a parent in extreme circumstances. The party seeking to have a parent’s rights terminated will bear a high burden of proof to demonstrate that the situation is serious enough to justify the permanent revocation of rights. The goal of this series is to provide an overview of Florida law governing the termination of parental rights. Another goal is to discuss the legal process for taking such action. Given the serious consequences and impact on the parties involved, it is imperative to retain a family law attorney with experience in child custody matters. If you need assistance, contact our office today to speak with a lawyer.
This series will address the following topics:
- When a Florida court will terminate a parent’s rights
- The process for terminating parental rights
- The importance of discovery when seeking the termination of parental rights
When considering whether to request the termination of a parent’s rights, one should understand these issues for a variety of reasons. First, child custody issues can be contentious. It is not uncommon for one parent to believe the other parent is unfit to raise a child. It is important to understand, however, that only extreme circumstances will justify the permanent decision to terminate a parent’s rights. Second, there are specific legal requirements and procedures that must be followed when terminating parental rights. One should understand what to expect during the process. Third, the party petitioning the court must provide objective evidence in support of their request and meet a high burden of proof. Discovery, the legal process to gather evidence, will play an important role in the case.
I cannot overemphasize the importance of retaining an attorney with experience in child custody issues if you are considering asking the court to terminate a parent’s legal rights to a child. Contact us today to speak with a Melbourne, Florida family lawyer. Our office is also dedicated to representing clients in the cities of Titusville, Cocoa, Palm Bay, Grant, Valkaria, and Rockledge, as well as in the Indian River County areas of Fellsmere, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Indian River Shores, and Orchid.