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Child custody dispute focuses on adoption agency tactics

On Behalf of | Feb 9, 2017 | Child Custody

Few Texas custody battles are more distressing than those between biological and adoptive parents. In such child custody cases, there are often no winners, and the matters focus on children who are caught in the middle of stressful and often lengthy court procedures. An example is found in the case of a man from a southern state whose daughter was placed for adoption while he was incarcerated.

The child was removed from her mother’s care shortly after birth, due to the fact that the infant tested positive for benzoylecgonine and cocaine. The father was incarcerated in another state on charges related to fraud, bank note/coin charges, probation violation and contempt of court. A court hearing was held in which the father’s rights were terminated, largely based on the fact that the father had played no role in the child’s life since the time of her birth.

The baby was placed in the care of a foster family, who later adopted her. However, that adoption was vacated several months ago, after the father appealed the termination of his parental rights. That move leaves the prospective adoptive family and the paternal birth family pitted against each other in a struggle over who will have the right to raise the little girl, who remains in the care of her prospective adoptive family as the matter moves forward.

In these types of child custody cases, it is easy to appreciate the arguments made by both sides. The biological father feels that his rights were wrongfully terminated, and that he should have a chance to raise his daughter now that he is out of jail. The parents who hope to adopt, however, have come to love the little girl as part of their family, and do not want to see her placed into living arrangements that may be less than optimal. Many Texas readers will continue to follow the case to see how it is ultimately resolved.

Source: Fox News, “Parents in fight with adopted child’s ex-con dad to keep custody of the 3-year-old girl“, Christina Corbin, Feb. 7, 2017

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