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How Do You Preserve Your Parental Rights in New Jersey?

Being a parent is central to your identity. Unfortunately, an alleged mistake on your part puts your parental rights in jeopardy. If you would like to remain a part of your child’s life, please read on, then contact an experienced Ocean County child custody attorney to learn how you preserve your parental rights in New Jersey.

How do you preserve your parental rights in New Jersey?

To preserve your parental rights in New Jersey, you must demonstrate to the Family Court and any other relevant authorities that you are not an unfit parent. The legal definition of an unfit parent is a parent or caretaker who is unable to provide a safe, secure, nurturing home for his or her child. The inability to do so could put the child at risk of suffering emotional, psychological or physical harm as a result.

How can you be deemed an unfit parent in New Jersey?

The following actions are examples of unfit parents in New Jersey:

  • Abandonment, desertion and neglect
  • Failure to maintain a reasonable degree of interest, concern or responsibility for the child’s welfare
  • Extreme or repeated cruelty to the child or documented child abuse
  • Depravity, as illustrated by past criminal convictions
  • Mental illness that negatively impacts your ability to parent
  • Substance abuse, especially in the presence of children
  • Missing child custody visits
  • Hoarding and other environmental hazards

These are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Many other actions, including ones that may be specific to your case, could force the Family Court to deem you an unfit parent.

How do you recover your parental rights in New Jersey?

To regain your parental rights, you should first reach out to an experienced Ocean County family law attorney. A qualified legal representative will guide you through the process, which includes evaluations, navigating the Child Protective Services system and negotiating the terms and conditions by which you can recover your parental rights. Upon the completion of these terms and conditions, and with the assistance of your attorney, you can go back to court to ask for a modification of the child custody order. When your case goes to court, your attorney will present evidence in support of your request for a new custody arrangement or visitation rights. Many cases languish; do not let yours be one of them.

Contact our experienced Ocean City firm

Matters of divorce and family law require the attention and skill of an experienced attorney who will fight for your future. Not only is your financial well-being at stake, but in a divorce, both you and your children’s emotional well-being are at risk as well. If you need a divorce and family law attorney in Ocean County, New Jersey, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Sarina Gianna, LLC today to schedule a consultation.