Legal Question in Family Law in Kansas

Termination of only one parents rights

An infant is in state custody(5 months so far) due to parental neglect. The father and mother were married, but have divorced. Father is doing all the state asks of him(UA's,therapy,visits,etc..). Mother has not done one thing. Can the state terminate on one parent and not the other? I heard that the State of Kansas will not create a ''bastard child''. That it is both or neither. Just need clarification.


Asked on 4/12/02, 1:34 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Bonnie Selby Bonnie J. Selby, Attorney at Law

Re: Termination of only one parents rights

What u have 'heard' is not a standard rule of the courts. . . that is, all or nothing. The State leans toward not 'bastardizing' a child, meaning terminating his paternity, unless it is absolutely in the child's best interest. The length of time a child may be in the care of the State should be totally dependent upon the efforts of their parent(s) toward correcting the issues for which they were removed from the home. You only said, 'neglect', therefore, i don't know if the child received damage. . .it may be necessary to provide services to enable the child to recover.

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Answered on 4/12/02, 8:17 am


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