RI · rules
R.I. R. Juv. P. 25
Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights
(a) Filing of Petition. A
voluntary termination of parental rights petition may be filed by any licensed or
governmental child placement agency at the request of the parent or parents of a
child under eighteen (18) years of age.
(b) Hearing. After any notice to the parent or parents that the court deems proper,
the court shall hold a hearing on the merits of the petition. If the court finds after
examination of the parent or parents that the parent or parents freely, knowingly, and
voluntarily wish to terminate parental rights and that the granting of the petition is
in the best interests of the child, the court may grant the petition and order that the
consent of the parent or parents to a subsequent adoption petition shall no longer be
necessary and that the agency shall be the guardian of the child for all purposes and
the sole party to give or withhold consent to adoption.
(c) Consent of Minor Parent. The court shall require the written consent of one
(1) of the parents, guardians, or guardian ad litem of any minor parent who wishes
to consent to any termination of rights pursuant to G.L. 1956 § 15-7-6. If the
whereabouts of both parents of the minor parent are unknown, that fact shall be
sworn to by the petitioner or an authorized officer or official of the licensed or
governmental child placement agency after notice in accordance with Rule 32. The
court may grant the petition upon a finding that the granting of the petition for
adoption or the termination of rights is in the best interest of the child.
(d) Challenge to Termination of Right to Give or Withhold Consent for
Adoption. Any challenge or petition to reverse a termination of a parent's right to
give or withhold consent for adoption shall be filed no later than one hundred eighty
(180) days after a judgment, decree, or an order is entered.
Provenance
- Source
- courts.ri.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- 2026-09-24
- Content hash
f88ea976a3f42f2a809ddb750103e068812b640e02a0bcc4fc05017afc97b0bb
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