I have a question regarding parental rights and when is a good time to terminate them? I used to live in Connecticut so I don't want a generic response without the responder knowing the Connecticut laws. Keep in mind, presently there is not any open cases regarding this matter. I am just seeking advice. Anyways, I was married in 2002 and divorced in January, 2006. Out of the marriage came two girls. I was awarded full custoday in May, 2005. The ages of my daughters are 5 and 4. They have not physically seen their birth mother since June, 2006. They have occassionally talked on the phone with her via their grandparents (birth mother's parents). It has been a long time since they have spoken to their birth mother. Their birth mother is an alcoholic and she has floated in/out of rehab many times which she continues to do so. Being my daughters have not seen her, she would be a stranger to them. Back in 2005, my attorney, who handled my custoday case, told me to give it about 6 months to see if their birth mother can straighten out her life before I terminate her parental rights. He continued, if she still continues to go in/out of rehab and she does have any desire to see the girls then terminate her rights. Now, here it has been about 3 years since we had that conversation and she still has her parental rights. The only reason she still has them because I only receive $480.00 in leu of child support. I know if I terminate her rights then I lose the money.
So back to the original question. At this point should I terminate them? On what grounds could I get her on? Abandonment? If I don't terminate her rights then do I leave the door wide open for her legally come back into my daughters lives?
So back to the original question. At this point should I terminate them? On what grounds could I get her on? Abandonment? If I don't terminate her rights then do I leave the door wide open for her legally come back into my daughters lives?
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