Questions You Want Answered > Child Custody and Support > Under what circumstances can I voluntarily terminate parental rights?
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Just so we're clear; we are not talking about the court acting to terminate involuntarily someone's parental rights in a juvenile case. That's a different stituation than a voluntary termination of parental rights. The short answer is that unless there is another person who is ready, willing and able to step into the terminating parent's position, you can't voluntarily terminate parental rights. There is a duty of support that flows from each parent to the child, and the state will not release that duty without someone else who is ready to accept it. That usually means second parent adoption by another individual.
Last updated on April 6, 2011 by Karen Robbins, Attorney at Law