A parent’s parental rights are inherent, but they can be terminated voluntarily or involuntarily by court order. The conditions under which a parent can voluntarily surrender his or her parental rights are extremely limited. Surrendering one’s parental rights means agreeing to end the legal relationship with one’s child. After that point, you may still have a child support obligation, but you will not have any other remaining rights or obligations regarding your child.
Typically, a parent may voluntarily surrender his or her parental rights in one of two ways. A parent may make a general surrender, which allows the DCP&P to find an adoptive home for the child or an identified surrender, wherein a specific person is identified and named as the adoptive parent. If you make an identified surrender and the adoption is not completed, the surrender will be vacated, but the DCP&P may ask you to make a general surrender. Note that surrendering your parental rights will not have a bearing on the parental rights of your child’s other parent.
You cannot simply voluntarily surrender your parental rights to end your parental responsibilities. If you choose to surrender your rights voluntarily, The DCP&P is required to provide you with counseling to make sure you are making a sound decision that is in your child’s best interests. After you’ve made your decision, both the DCP&P and the court will need to approve your surrender for it to become legal. The conditions under which the court and DCP&P will accept a voluntary surrender are limited, but the legal standard that must be met is whether the surrender is in the best interests of the child. In cases where reunification with the child’s parents is not desirable, a parent may be permitted to voluntary surrender his or her rights so that the child can be adopted. Because a permanent placement for the child is the end goal of all child welfare proceedings, a parent’s decision to terminate his or her parental rights is a critical part of the case. Without a voluntary surrender, the court can still terminate the parent’s rights if it is in the best interests of the child, and it often is when reunification is not possible.
If you do not think you can continue to care for your child, surrendering your parental rights might not be your only option. This is a serious decision that you should make until you speak with an experienced child welfare attorney. A knowledgeable attorney can help you understand what effects surrendering your rights will have, the conditions under which you can make such a decision, and what option may be in your child’s best interests. And, if surrendering your parental rights is the best option, an attorney can help you navigate the ensuing proceedings while protecting your best interests.
Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review Ratings™ display reviews submitted by individuals who have either hired or consulted the lawyers or law firms.
The Client Review Rating score is determined through the aggregation of validated responses. People who submit reviews are either individuals who consulted with the lawyer/law firm or who hired the lawyer/law firm and want to share their experience of that lawyer or law firm with other potential clients. Reviewers can be anyone who consults or hires a lawyer including in-house counsel, corporate executives, small business owners, and private individuals.
Martindale-Hubbell validates that a reviewer is a person with a valid email address. As part of the review process, respondents must affirm that they have had an initial consultation, are currently a client or have been a client of the lawyer or law firm identified, although Martindale-Hubbell cannot confirm the lawyer/client relationship as it is often confidential. The content of the responses is entirely from reviewers.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome and Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of any review. For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Client Review Ratings, please visit our Client Review Page
Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are the gold standard in attorney ratings, and have been for more than a century. These ratings indicate attorneys who are widely respected by their peers for their ethical standards and legal expertise in a specific area of practice.
The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings process is the gold standard due to its objectivity and comprehensiveness. Lawyers solicited for peer reviews include both those selected by the attorney being reviewed and lawyers independently selected by Martindale-Hubbell. All reviewers are verified as attorneys through Martindale-Hubbell’s extensive attorney database. Only attorneys practicing at least three years and receiving a sufficient number of reviews from non-affiliated attorneys are eligible to receive a Rating.
What are the different Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings?*
• AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
• Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
• Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
Lawyers who have received peer reviews after 2009 will display more detailed information, including practice areas, summary ratings, detailed numeric ratings and written feedback (if available). Details for individual reviews received before 2009 are not displayed.
Attorneys that receive reviews from their peers, but not a sufficient number to establish a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, will have those reviews display on our websites.
For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings™, please visit our Ratings Page on Martindale.com and our Frequently Asked Questions