How can parental rights be taken away?

Parental Rights can be taken away if DSS files a petition with the court for termination of parental rights or if one of the parents files against the other one who is seeking to have the other parent's rights terminated. Sometimes it is done involuntarily on the part of the parent being served and sometimes a parent may choose to agree to relinquish their rights but the parent wanting to give up their rights can't just go and file for it. As stated, the other parent or DSS has to be the one to file.

Each state has different laws on the procedure and grounds to do so. The best thing to do would be to go to google and type in your state and grounds and procedures for termination of parental rights or go to your state's legislative website and search for the laws, such as the state General Assembly or whoever makes laws in your state. The laws may fall under, Juveniles, Child Welfare, Domestic, Family, Adoptions, etc...

Sometimes an adoption must take place in order for the TPR, meaning someone must be willing to adopt the child. In some states, that's not the case, one can be done without it. Some states you have to go to court to do it, in some it's done in front of the Clerk of Court.

Some grounds for a TPR include abandonment, no contact for a period of time, no child support for a period of time, failing to establish paternity, abuse, neglect and the list goes on. In some states it is more difficult to get a TPR than in others.

Hope this helps.