Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)
A court order that permanently ends the legal relationship between a parent and child.
Termination of parental rights (TPR) is one of the most serious actions a Minnesota court can take. When a court grants a TPR, the parent loses all legal rights and responsibilities to the child. This includes the right to visit the child, make decisions about the child, and have any legal connection to the child. The order is permanent and cannot be undone.
There are two types of TPR in Minnesota. Voluntary TPR happens when a parent agrees to give up their rights, often as part of an adoption plan. Involuntary TPR happens when the county asks the court to end a parent’s rights because of serious concerns about the child’s safety. Common reasons include long-term neglect, abuse, or a parent’s failure to follow a court-ordered plan to fix the problems that led to the child being removed from the home.
Most involuntary TPR cases in Minnesota start as CHIPS (Child in Need of Protection or Services) cases. If a CHIPS case has been open for a long time and the parent has not made enough progress, the county may file to terminate parental rights. Minnesota law requires the county to consider filing for TPR if a child has been in foster care for 12 of the most recent 22 months.
Why it matters: TPR permanently changes the legal relationship between a parent and child. If you are involved in a CHIPS case or a TPR proceeding, you have the right to a lawyer. Because the consequences are so severe, courts must follow strict rules before granting a TPR.
Example: A county removes a child from a home due to neglect and opens a CHIPS case. The court orders the parent to complete parenting classes and maintain stable housing. After 15 months, the parent has not completed the plan. The county files a petition to terminate parental rights so the child can be adopted by a foster family.
CHIPS cases, adoption proceedings, child protection hearings