8-531. Definitions In this article, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. " Abandonment" means the failure of a parent to provide reasonable support and to maintain regular contact with the child, including providing normal supervision. Abandonment includes a judicial finding that a parent has made only minimal efforts to support and communicate with the child. […]
8-531.01. Prohibition Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no child who in good faith is being furnished Christian Science treatment by a duly accredited practitioner shall, for that reason alone, be considered to be an abused, neglected or dependent child.
8-532. Jurisdiction; dependency based termination A. The juvenile court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over petitions to terminate the parent-child relationship when the child involved is present in this state. B. The juvenile court shall continue to have exclusive original jurisdiction when the juvenile is in the legal custody of the juvenile court although the […]
8-533. Petition; who may file; grounds A. Any person or agency that has a legitimate interest in the welfare of a child, including a relative, a foster parent, a physician, the department or a private licensed child welfare agency, may file a petition for the termination of the parent-child relationship alleging grounds contained in subsection […]
8-534. Contents of petition A. The petition for the termination of the parent-child relationship filed pursuant to this article shall include, to the best information or belief of the petitioner: 1. The name and place of residence of the petitioner. 2. The name, sex, date and place of birth and residence of the child. 3. […]
8-535. Notice of initial hearing; waiver; guardian ad litem A. After the petition has been filed, the clerk of the superior court shall set a time and place for the initial hearing. Notice of the initial hearing and a copy of the petition shall be given to the parents of the child, the guardian of […]
8-536. Social study before disposition; contents A. On the filing of a petition, the court shall order that the department, an agency or another person selected by the court conduct or cause to be conducted a complete social study and that a report in writing of such study be submitted to the court before a […]
8-537. Termination adjudication hearing A. If a petition for terminating the parent-child relationship is contested, the court shall hold a termination adjudication hearing within ninety days after the initial severance hearing. The general public shall be excluded and only such persons admitted whose presence the judge finds to have a direct interest in the case […]
8-538. Court order; form; contents A. Every order of the court terminating the parent-child relationship or transferring legal custody or guardianship of the person of the child or providing for protective supervision of the child shall be in writing and shall recite the findings on which the order is based, including findings pertaining to placement […]
8-539. Effect of court order An order terminating the parent-child relationship shall divest the parent and the child of all legal rights, privileges, duties and obligations with respect to each other except the right of the child to inherit and support from the parent. This right of inheritance and support shall only be terminated by […]
8-540. Court costs A. There shall be no fees assessed for the filing of a petition to terminate the parent-child relationship. B. All court costs, including the cost of giving notice and advertising shall be paid by the petitioners if the court so orders. The court may suspend such costs where payment would work a […]
8-541. Records; disclosure; exception A. All files, records, reports and other papers compiled in accord with this article, whether filed in or in possession of the court, a child placement agency or other agency or association, are subject to disclosure pursuant to sections 8-807 and 8-807.01. B. This section does not prohibit persons employed by […]
8-542. Confidentiality of information; violation; classification A. It is unlawful, except for purposes for which files and records or social records or parts of or information from files and records or social records have been released pursuant to section 8-541, or except for purposes permitted by order of the court, for any person to knowingly […]
8-543. Sibling information exchange program; definition A. The administrative office of the courts shall establish a sibling information exchange program to facilitate contact between a former dependent child and the child’s sibling or siblings. B. The following persons may participate in the program: 1. An adult who is a former dependent child. 2. A juvenile […]
8-544. Termination decrees of other states When the relationship of parent and child has been terminated by judicial decree in another state, such decree shall have the same force and effect as to matters within the jurisdiction of this state as though it had been granted by a court of this state.
