West Chester PA family lawyer, Joshua A. Janis is a member of Ciccarelli Law Offices, which is located in Chester County Pennsylvania and represents divorce, custody, support and family law clients in Exton, Kennett Square, Downingtown, Phoenixville, Malvern, Coatesville, West Grove, Avondale, Oxford, Landenberg, Westtown, Parkesburg, Honey Brook and Glenmore. Ciccarelli Law Offices also serves the five county Philadelphia area, including Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, and Montgomery counties and has locations to meet you in Springfield, Wayne, King of Prussia, Plymouth Meeting, Center City Philadelphia, and Lancaster. Disclaimer. Learn more by contacting Ciccarelli Law Offices.
212 West Gay Street West Chester PA 19380 (610) 692-8700
Joshua A. Janis, Esquire Ciccarelli Law Offices
Termination of Parental Rights
As a Chester County PA Family lawyer, Joshua Janis handles Petition for Termination of Parental Rights. Under Pennsylvania law, a natural parent has inherent legal rights to their child even if they do not have physical custody. A Petition to terminate parental rights may be filed in connection with a Petition for Adoption. Many factors can constitute grounds to terminate parental rights: Abandonment for a period of at least six (6) months immediately preceding the filing of a Petition to Terminate; Incompetency and Neglect; that Parent is not biological parent; Found Child - child is in custody of agency because parents have disappeared after three (3) month period; failure to remedy conditions six months following removal from home; newborns under age six (6) months if parents fail to maintain contact or financial support; rape and incest; or 12 month abandonment following placement.
Voluntary Termination or Relinquishment of Parental Rights
A birth parent can voluntarily relinquish his or her parental rights by filing a Petition to Terminate Parental Rights if a child is under age 18 and has been in the care of an agency for a minimum of three days or an adult has filed a report of Intention to Adopt. It is against public policy for a parent to voluntarily relinquish his or her parental rights without simultaneous procedures of another party(s) to adopt. This policy ensures that minors will always be financially supported by adults who are either responsible to support a child or choose to adopt and thus support a child.
Circumstances that typically cannot be used as grounds for termination of parental rights are: *Mental illness – courts must still consider needs and welfare of children; Incarceration of a parent ; or *Child in need of welfare or social services but parent is taking steps to remedy the conditions which led to the removal of child. Contact attorney Joshua Janis for legal advice and information on a Petition to Terminate Parental Rights at (610) 692-8700.
Chester County Termination of Parental Rights – West Chester PA Termination of Parental Rights Lawyer – Child Abandonment in Pennsylvania – Information on filing Petition to Terminate Parental Rights – Kennett Square Family Lawyer – Family Law