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View Full Version : Initiating involuntary termination of absent mother's rights in Oregon


comicgeek
Mar 11, 2011, 08:30 PM
My stepson's biological mother hasn't seen him in 2 1/2 years, as the family court refused to grant any sort of visitation following multiple drug relapses and the loss of a second child its father's custody. She had my stepson placed into protective custody twice before the age of 2, and I've been raising him since my husband was able to win full custody in 2006(he is now almost 7, so five years).
My husband and I have decided to proceed with a step-parent adoption while she is serving a six month jail sentence, but we can't figure out how to get her rights terminated without a lawyer. She writes letters that are go back and forth between delusional or completely age inappropriate, and fits the criteria for "unfit" in three different categories. It will be a very straight-forward matter once we get into court, as the judge assigned to our family is well-versed in the mother's drug abuse and mental instability even when sober, but I can't afford to hire someone to initiate these proceedings and she REFUSES to voluntarily relinquish rights despite lures of no child support and forgiven past due (she owes over 11k). DHS is of no help, as they closed the case 3 1/2 years ago.
Can we use the modification for custody/visitation/support form to get us into court again and then work from there, or is there some magic form we haven't found? I can't find the answer anywhere, including the court house clerks.

GV70
Mar 12, 2011, 05:17 AM
Have a look here:
http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/children/publications/chstep.pdf?ga=t
... and here
http://reliableadoption.com/states/oregon_adoption.html

comicgeek
Mar 18, 2011, 02:16 PM
Thank you so much, I'd found the check list but the termination is the headache. The second site provided looks as if it is affordable and will enable us to get things done! Very appreciated!