These are the most common grounds to terminate parental rights in Connecticut: 1. Abandonment. This occurs when a parent has abandoned the child by failing to maintain a reasonable degree of interest, concern or responsibility as to the welfare of their child. 2. Failure to rehabilitate. Rehabilitation refers to whether or not the parent has…
Guardianship of a child in Connecticut includes the authority to make major decisions affecting the child’s education, welfare and medical treatment. The process of removing a parent as a child’s guardian, starts with an Application filed in the Probate Court. The Probate Judge usually requests the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to conduct an…
What types of cases does the Fairfield Probate Court decide? In general terms, there are three categories of cases: 1. Cases involving the welfare of children. The Court has the authority to remove an unfit parent as the guardian of their child. In cases involving extreme neglect or abuse the Court also may terminate parental…
When someone passes away in Connecticut, the local Probate Court oversees the estate. In short, the Probate Court makes sure debts are paid and property is distributed to beneficiaries (if there is a will) or to heirs (if there is no will). Sounds easy enough and for many estates it is relatively straightforward….
Probate Courts in Connecticut have exclusive jurisdiction to handle stepparent adoptions. We know that many stepparents have a parent like relationship with their spouse’s child. They spend lots of time together and do all the things those parents and children enjoy. The child loves and trusts the stepparent and even calls them “mom” or “dad.”…
An open adoption provides for some form of ongoing contact between a child and his/her biological parents after an adoption has been granted by the Probate Court or Juvenile Court. In Connecticut, open adoption agreements may be governed by Connecticut General Statutes Section 17a-112 or may be based on strict contract principles – referred to…