Form 10-540 NMRA
Form 10-540. Motion for termination of parental rights.
[For use with Rule 10-347 NMRA]
STATE OF NEW MEXICO
COUNTY OF _______________
__________________ JUDICIAL DISTRICT
IN THE CHILDREN’S COURT
STATE OF NEW MEXICO ex rel.
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT
No. __________
In the Matter of
_______________________________, (a) Child(ren), and Concerning
_______________________________, Respondent(s).
MOTION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS
COMES NOW the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, Petitioner,
and in support of this Motion to Terminate Parental Rights, states as follows:
1. ________________ is an unmarried child born on ________, _____, in
_________ County, State of ______________. (Repeat for each child)
2. ________________ (name(s) of child(ren)) is/are placed in ______________
(type of placement). No person, other than Respondents named herein, claims to have
custody or visitation rights to the child(ren).
3. ________________ (name(s) of child(ren)) is/are residents of New Mexico and
have been for more than six (6) months preceding the filing of this Motion for
Termination of Parental Rights. ________________ (name(s) of child(ren)) was/were
placed by Petitioner from ___________ County, New Mexico.
4. This action is governed by the New Mexico Children’s Code, Section 32A-1-1
NMSA 1978, et seq., and concerns minor child(ren) who is/are located in the State of
New Mexico.
5. _______________ (name(s) of child(ren))’s mother is __________________,
and Petitioner seeks to terminate the parental rights of this individual.1
6. ________________ (name(s) of child(ren))’s father is __________________,
and Petitioner seeks to terminate the parental rights of this individual.2
7. The grounds upon which termination of parental rights is sought are: (Select
appropriate option(s) and delete the rest)
a.
________________ (name(s) of child(ren)) has/have been neglected or
abused as defined in Section 32A-4-2 NMSA 1978, and the conditions and causes of
the neglect or abuse are unlikely to change in the foreseeable future despite reasonable
efforts by Petitioner or other appropriate agencies to assist the parents in adjusting the
conditions which render the parents unable to care for the children properly, pursuant to
Section 32A-4-28 (B)(2) NMSA 1978.
b.
________________ (name(s) of child(ren)) has/have been abandoned by
the child(ren)’s parents, pursuant to Section 32A-4-28(B)(1) NMSA 1978.
c.
________________ (name(s) of child(ren)) has/have been placed in the
care of others, and the conditions enumerated in Section 32A-4-28(B)(3) NMSA 1978
apply.
8. The facts and circumstances supporting the grounds for termination set out
above are as follows:
a.
________________ (name(s) of child(ren)) was/were placed in the
custody of Petitioner on _______________, ____, pursuant to a law enforcement hold
and subsequent Ex Parte Order entered on ______________ (date of order) and have
been in the legal custody of Petitioner continuously since that date.
b.
________________ (name(s) of child(ren)) was/were adjudicated a/an
[abused] [and] [neglected] child(ren) in _____________ County District Court,
Children’s Court Division, in Cause No. _________, on __________, ____.
c.
Respondents are unable or unwilling to provide proper parental care or
control for ________________ (name(s) of child(ren)). Petitioner has provided or made
available services and support designed to correct this inability or unwillingness, but
respondents have either not utilized these services and support, or have been unable or
unwilling to benefit sufficiently from them, or both. It is unlikely that this situation will
change in the foreseeable future.
d.
(Insert further factual recitations in lettered sub-paragraphs as necessary.)
9. ________________ (name(s) of child(ren)) is/are [not] subject to the Indian Child
Welfare Act.3
10. Petitioner, at __________________________ (insert CYFD office address),
requests that it be granted continued custody of ________________ (name(s) of
child(ren)), pending adoption.
11. Termination is in the best interests of ________________ (name(s) of child(ren)),
taking into consideration the physical, mental, and emotional needs of the child(ren),
including the likelihood of the child(ren) being adopted if parental rights are terminated.
(Add specific facts if appropriate)
12. (Use when appropriate.) This Motion is in contemplation of adoption.
13. Petitioner currently has legal custody of ________________ (name(s) of
child(ren)).
WHEREFORE, Petitioner prays that this Court enter its Judgment terminating the
parental rights of _____________ (name(s) of Respondent(s)), with respect to
________________ (name(s) of child(ren)), and for such other and further relief as the
Court deems appropriate.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________________
Attorney name
Children’s Court Attorney
Children, Youth and Families Department
Attorney address
Telephone: ____________
Facsimile: _____________