Rule 125.01 Termination, When

A judge can end a parent's legal rights to their child, but only under specific conditions. First, someone has to file a petition asking the court to terminate parental rights, following the process laid out in Missouri law (section 211.447). Then the court must hold a hearing to look at the facts of the case.

Before the judge can actually terminate parental rights, two things have to be true. First, the judge must find that ending the parent's rights is in the child's best interests. Second, the judge must find that at least one legal reason for termination actually applies, based on what the law allows.

If both of these things are proven, the judge has the authority to terminate the parent's rights. This means the legal relationship between parent and child ends. The parent no longer has custody rights, visitation rights, or other legal ties to the child.