Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) and/or Placement

Parental rights are defined as the legal relationship between a parent and a child. This legal relationship encompasses the parent's obligation to financially support the child, the parent's right to custody and visitation, and the authority to make educational, religious, and medical decisions for the child. Courts require objective evidence that termination is in the child's best interests. Judges often hesitate to terminate parental rights, even when the termination is voluntary.

Another parental court matter arises when parents cannot agree on, or change their minds about, placement and custody. In either circumstance, information must be submitted to the court regarding the parent and their capacity to provide a safe and stable home environment. The judge will prioritize establishing a stable arrangement that serves the child's best interests.

Reports that provide objective information to the court regarding the factors a judge considers during such hearings can be valuable. These reports include information from a psychosocial report as well as details about the home environment and the youth’s relationship with their parent.