Tennessee Petition For Abandonment of Biological Father's Rights

What Constitutes Child Abandonment?For example, a parent who willfully fails to visit their child or make reasonable child support payments will sometimes be deemed to have legally abandoned their child. For the precise legal definition of abandonment under Tennessee law check out code section 36-1-102.

In order to terminate their rights, a petition to terminate an absent parent's parental rights will need to be filed in family court. The judge will then proceed to review the case and the circumstances and determine whether parental rights should be terminated.

As such, the termination of parental rights is very rare. While you may feel that your deadbeat ex isn't worthy of the privilege of time with your child, the courts look on the matter differently, taking a child's needs and well-being into account over a parent's personal grievances.

Child abandonment occurs when a parent, guardian, or person in charge of a child either deserts a child without any regard for the child's physical health, safety or welfare and with the intention of wholly abandoning the child, or in some instances, fails to provide necessary care for a child living under their roof.

The sole consideration in such a decision is the best interests of the child. If the court determines that a parent willfully abandoned his or her child for at least 18 months, then that parent's involvement with the child (such as visitation) will be limited.

Yes you have an opportunity to terminate the biological father's parental rights.The failure of the biological father to maintain a normal parent child relationship for one year or more or his failure to provide support for the children are grounds to terminate his parental rights.

Abandonment by the parent; Failure to provide support or maintain contact with the child for at least six months; A long history of substance abuse; or. Incarceration for specific violent crimes.

If a child has been left with a non-parent for six months or more with no contact or support, that constitutes abandonment. If a child has been left with the other parent for one year or more with no contact or support, that constitutes abandonment. Other issues can lead to termination of parental rights as well.