Parental Rights Removal

My ex husband has willingly stopped seeing our children for almost 15 months, with the only contact being one phone call on their birthday. He has also stopped paying child support for 2 months thus far.

From my understanding I can have his rights removed if he has not seen the children willingly for 1 year.

How can I go about this?

I am currently going through a partition for the martial property. I am concerned the partition will anger him and for the safety of my children I would like to have his rights removed. I am not sure if this is something I proceed with on my own or if I would really need to seek counsel.

You can seek a custody order by filing a complaint for child custody against the father or, if eligible, you can seek a termination of parent rights order by filing a petition to terminate the parental rights of the father.

You would be eligible for a termination of parental rights order if the father has “willfully abandoned” the minor children for at least six consecutive months.


Anna Ayscue

Attorney with Rosen Law Firm Cary • Chapel Hill • Durham • Raleigh • Wake Forest

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