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Paula Werme's DCYF information |
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Official RSAs |
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Note to people who came here via a search engine: You are not at New Hampshire's RSA web site (follow the link above if you wish to be there). This folder has excerpts from a chapter of the NH RSAs that have some relevance to understanding and working with the state's Division of Children, Youth, and Families. These pages collect several sections into one page that is easier to navigate than the state's pages.
170-C:1 Purpose. Source. 1973, 523:1, eff. Aug. 31, 1973.
170-C:2 Definitions. Source. 1973, 523:1. 1983, 291:1. 1986, 223:7. 1994, 212:2. 1995, 310:181, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.
170-C:3 Jurisdiction. Source. 1973, 523:1. 1983, 331:6, eff. Aug. 17, 1983.
170-C:4 Petition. Source. 1973, 523:1. 1981, 381:1, eff. Aug. 22, 1981.
170-C:5 Grounds for Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship. Source. 1973, 523:1. 1975, 280:5. 1979, 332:1. 1983, 331:7; 401:1. 1990, 240:5. 1999, 133:2, 4, eff. June 18, 1999.
170-C:7 Notice. Source. 1973, 523:1. 1974, 18:3, eff. April 2, 1974.
170-C:9 Social Study Prior to Disposition. Source. 1973, 523:1. 1983, 291:1. 1986, 223:7. 1987, 174:4. 1994, 212:2. 1995, 310:181, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.
I. "Court'' means the probate court.
II. "Child'' or "minor'' means a person less than 18 years of age.
III. The singular includes the plural, the plural the singular, and the masculine the feminine, when consistent with the intent of the chapter.
IV. "Legal custody'' means a status created by court order, embodying the following rights and responsibilities:
(a) The right to have the physical possession of the child;
(b) The right and the duty to protect, train and discipline the child; and
(c) The responsibility to provide the child with food, clothing, shelter, education and ordinary medical care, provided that such rights and responsibilities shall be exercised subject to the powers, rights, duties and responsibilities of the guardian of the person and subject to residual parental rights and responsibilities if these have not been terminated by judicial decree.
V. "Guardianship of the person'' with respect to a minor means the duty and authority to make important decisions in matters having a permanent effect on the life and development of the minor, and to be concerned about the general welfare of the minor. It includes but is not necessarily limited either in number or kind to:
(a) The authority to consent to marriage, to enlistment in the armed forces of the United States, and to major medical, psychiatric and surgical treatment, to represent the minor in legal actions and to make other decisions concerning the child of substantial legal significance.
(b) The authority and duty of reasonable visitation, except to the extent that such right of visitation has been limited by court order.
(c) The rights and responsibilities of legal custody except where legal custody has been vested in another individual or in an authorized agency.
(d) When the parent-child relationship has been terminated by judicial decree with respect to the parents, or only living parent, or when there is no living parent, the authority to consent to the adoption of the child and to make any other decision concerning the child which the child's parents could make.
VI. "Guardian ad litem'' means a person appointed by the court to protect the interest of a minor or an incompetent in a case before the court.
VII. "Authorized agency'' means the New Hampshire department of health and human services or a licensed child-placing agency.
VIII. "Parent'' means (a) the mother, (b) a father as to whom a child is legitimate, (c) a person as to whom a child is presumed to be a legitimate child, (d) a putative father who is living with the mother and child or who has complied with the provisions of RSA 170-B:5, I(d), or (e) an adoptive parent. Such term does not include a parent as to whom the parent-child relationship has been terminated by judicial decree.
IX. "Residual parental rights and responsibilities'' means those rights and responsibilities remaining with the parent (where there has not been termination of the parent-child relationship by judicial decree) after the transfer of legal custody and guardianship of the person, including but not necessarily limited to, the right to reasonable visitation, consent to adoption, the right to determine the child's religious affiliation, and the responsibility for support.
X. "Parties'' includes the child, the petitioners, and the child's parents.
I. Either parent when termination of the parent-child relationship is sought with respect to the other parent.
II. The guardian of the person or the legal custodian of the child or the foster parents. Foster parents may file only when the following conditions are met:
(a) The child has lived in the foster home continuously for 24 months; and
(b) The foster parents have requested in writing the licensed child-placing agency to legally free the child for adoption, but that the agency has not initiated proceedings, and there is reasonable cause to believe that grounds exist.
III. An authorized agency.
I. The parent has abandoned the child. It shall be presumed that the parent intends to abandon the child who has been left by his parent without provision for his identification or who has been left by his parent in the care and custody of another without any provision for his support, or without communication from such parent for a period of 6 months. If in the opinion of the court the evidence indicates that such parent has made only minimal efforts to support or communicate with the child, the court may declare the child to be abandoned.
II. That, although the parents are financially able, they have substantially and continuously neglected to provide the child with necessary subsistence, education or other care necessary for his mental, emotional, or physical health or have substantially and continuously neglected to pay for such subsistence, education or other care when legal custody is lodged with others; provided, however, it shall not be grounds for the termination of the parent-child relationship for the sole reason the parent of said child relies upon spiritual means through prayer in accordance with a recognized religious method of healing in lieu of medical treatment for the healing of said child.
III. The parents, subsequent to a finding of child neglect or abuse under RSA 169-C, have failed to correct the conditions leading to such a finding within 12 months of the finding despite reasonable efforts under the direction of the district court to rectify the conditions.
IV. Because of mental deficiency or mental illness, the parent is and will continue to be incapable of giving the child proper parental care and protection for a longer period of time than would be wise or prudent to leave the child in an unstable or impermanent environment. Mental deficiency or mental illness shall be established by the testimony of either 2 licensed psychiatrists or clinical psychologists or one of each acting together.
V. The parent knowingly or willfully caused or permitted another to cause severe sexual, physical, emotional, or mental abuse of the child. Subsequent to a finding of such abuse pursuant to RSA 169-C, the parent-child relationship may be terminated if return of the child to the parent would result in a substantial possibility of harm to the child. A substantial possibility of harm to the child shall be established by testimony of at least 2 of the following factors:
(a) The parent's conduct toward the child has resulted in severe harm to the child.
(b) The parent's conduct toward the child has continued despite the reasonable efforts of authorized agencies in obtaining or providing services for the parent to reduce or alleviate such conduct.
(c) The parent's conduct has continued to occur either over a period of time, or many times, or to such a degree so as to indicate a pattern of behavior on the part of the parent which indicates a complete disregard for the child's health and welfare.
(d) Such conduct is likely to continue with no change in parental behavior, attitude or actions.
Testimony shall be provided by any combination of at least 2 of the following people: a licensed psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist, a physician, or a social worker who possesses a master's degree in social work and is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers.
VI. If the parent or guardian is, as a result of incarceration for a felony offense, unable to discharge his responsibilities to and for the child and, in addition, has been found pursuant to RSA 169-C to have abused or neglected his child or children, the court may review the conviction of the parent or guardian to determine whether the felony offense is of such a nature, and the period of incarceration imposed of such duration, that the child would be deprived of proper parental care and protection and left in an unstable or impermanent environment for a longer period of time than would be prudent. Placement of the child in foster care shall not be considered proper parental care and protection for purposes of this paragraph. Incarceration in and of itself shall not be grounds for termination of parental rights.
VII. The parent has been convicted of one or more of the following offenses:
(a) Murder of another child of the parent, pursuant to RSA 630:1-a or 630:1-b.
(b) Manslaughter of another child of the parent pursuant to RSA 630:2.
(c) Attempt, pursuant to RSA 629:1, solicitation, pursuant to RSA 629:2, or conspiracy, pursuant to RSA 629:3, to commit any of the offenses specified in subparagraphs VII(a) and VII(b).
(d) A felony assault under RSA 631:1, 631:2, 632-A:2, or 632-A:3 which resulted in serious bodily injury to the child or to another child of the parent.
I. Upon the filing of a petition, the court shall direct that a social study be made by the department of health and human services or by any other authorized agency and that a report in writing of such study be submitted to the court prior to the hearing. The social study shall include the circumstances of the petition, the social history, the present condition of the child and parents, proposed plans for the child, and such other facts as may be pertinent to the parent-child relationship. The purpose of the social study is to aid the court in making disposition of the petition and shall be considered by the court prior thereto. Copies of the social study shall be made available to the parties' attorneys. The contents of said study shall be treated in a confidential manner so as not to injure any party.
II. If the petition is filed by one parent with respect to the other parent, the court may waive or limit the extent of the social study otherwise required by this section. In such cases, the age of the child shall be considered; as well as the alleged grounds for termination of parental rights; the length of time the child has lived with the stepparent, if any; and the wishes of the child, parents, and other persons found by the court to have an appropriate interest in the child.