Can my teen ask to have her dad's parental rights terminated?

Question

He has treated her horribly since she decided to stay w/me. He used to call 2 X per day, now...NEVER, He won't answer if he sees our #. Her grandparents ignore her, stopped calling, don't pay for chores on the farm(they used to) won't take her calls & Not 1 replies to her e-mail. She asked her stepdad to adopt her but her father's favorite past time is making me miserable. So he won't allow it, unless he realizes he won't have to pay support. Can she get a lawyer & demand it or can we change her last name legally, w/out his approval?

This was 100% her idea. She asked me, I asked my husband & he said if that's what she wants, he'd "be honored" to be her father.

She is 13 & being mentally & emotionally abused every minute she's w/him. She is so terrified of what "daddy dearest" will do to her if she goes against him, she's begged me not to make her go. He did threaten to KILL US ALL while holding the gun! Did anyone get that he held us at gunpoint for 4.5 hours? He's a psycho, drug user, best friend...his dealer! Since he got custody of my son 2.5 weeks ago, my son smokes (NEVER WHEN I HAD HIM) I've been denied phone calls & visitation, had to get cops to call his WITCH grandma to ask if my son was still alive! I think if I write this enough times, someone will get it...CARROLL COUNTY TN JUDGE RON E. HARMON DOESN'T CARE ABOUT KIDS OR WOMEN. WE ARE ABUSED, THREATENED, ETC & NOT EVEN 1 POLICE REPORT CAN BE FOUND. It is a JOKE! My child is afraid that he'll do to her what she saw him do to me & get away w/it again!

Answer 1

YES your daughter can depending on your state and her age either you need to get a lawyer or a child's advocate, your daughter "Motion The Court" for what is an "Emancipation" against her father with what your telling me it should be granted, this is what children do, it is another way of being set free from there parents or a parent, go on the Internet and check it out, GOOD LUCK also most people don't need lawyers to do this but you may need one, I am also telling you it would be best that you allow you daughter to do this on her own of course go with her but as far as you going in to the lawyer or court room no the reason are this it is up to her and her choice that way no one will say you made her do this even thought they will anyways, Hallmark made a movie called "into the night about just this" try to get or contact me email and I will help you get the movie very helpful

Answer 2

Terminating parental rights does not automatically exempt your daughter's father from paying child support. It basically terminates his RIGHTS as a parent...not a parent's OBLIGATIONS. Terminating his parental rights probably won't make him treat your daughter any better, meaning it's not going to make him start calling her again and doing the things he used to do and you should probably think of her future...she may need her dad one day and he will have the right to deny her if his rights are terminated. Depending on what state you live in, she may be able to use her step-dad's last name w/o legally changing it as long as she doesn't use a different name for fraudulant purposes, but you should check with your laws. You can petition the court for changing her name, but her father will have to be served the OSC (order to show cause) unless there has been domestic violence or stalking, and the court will require some sort of documentation or proof if so. Most courts frown on terminating parental rights unless there are abuse issues and CPS is requesting that parental rights be terminated. You don't say how old your daughter is...another idea may be to check into having your daughter emancipated, and there are certain requirements that must be met before the court will grant the emancipation, but it may be worth looking into. Good luck to you and your daughter.

Answer 3

Since he's not trying to exercise his rights, why go to the trouble of having them terminated? She can change her last name if she wishes without being legally adopted. Stop doing chores for the grandparents if they stopped paying.

The main thing is to not act on emotions. Give it time and then decide what is really wanted. Don't do something that may be regretted later, out of anger and pay back.

Answer 4

You can apply for sole custody and your daughter would probably get a say in how she wants the judge to rule. The more evidnce of abuse you have the better. The adoption will be considered a seperate issue.

Answer 5

well i think you can take this matter to court on mental cruelty but you will have to have proof, with the support of your teenthe best thing to do is to take legal advice before you do any thing cause you might make the situation worse,we are lay people and the laws have many loop holes and unless you get professional help you might go wrong

Answer 6

Yes, she can ask that his parental rights be terminated but ultimately, it will still be the judge's decision. If she gets a lawyer, it will likely be done as she wants it to be.

Answer 7

yea they can be....you have to go the lagal way though...also you will have to prove that he isnt doin anthing to help...if hewr grandparents aren't payin her then she should stop doing the chores for them...also she can be emancipated or or father can sign over his parental rights to the stepfather wheather that be through guardian ship or so forth

Answer 8

Yes,as long as it is her decision and you are not swaying it by telling her her dad isn't worth a crap.

Answer 9

it is best to go the legal way.