Contact an Experienced Arizona and Nevada Dependency Attorney Today
At EverHome Adoptions, we believe that every child deserves a safe, loving, and permanent family—and we’re honored to help make that a reality.
If you’re caring for a child through foster placement or kinship care and want to explore adoption, contact our office today. We’ll walk you through every step of the DCS adoption process and ensure your path to adoption is clear, supported, and successful.
While laws vary slightly between states, both Arizona and Nevada allow termination based on grounds such as:
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Abandonment
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Chronic mental illness or incapacity
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Substance abuse that prevents safe parenting
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Chronic abuse or neglect
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Incarceration of the parent
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Previous termination of rights for another child
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Failure to establish paternity or participate as a legal parent
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Extended inability to provide care, even with services
In all cases, the court must find that TPR is in the best interests of the child.
Grounds for TPR
When DCS (AZ) or DCFS/CPS (NV) is involved, the state may seek termination if a parent fails to complete their case plan or remains a danger to the child. These agencies often act swiftly and assertively in removal and reunification decisions.
If reunification fails, and rights are severed, adoption can proceed—often by relatives or foster parents.
We represent adoptive caregivers and biological parents in TPR proceedings across both Arizona and Nevada, with a special focus on ensuring legal and emotional stability for the child.
When Child Protective Services Is Involved
In private adoptions—including step-parent, grandparent, and LGBTQ+ second-parent adoptions—parental rights must be terminated before the adoption can be finalized. This may occur voluntarily or via court order if the parent is unfit or unavailable.
Even in uncontested cases, TPR must be handled with great care. Errors during this process can delay or even reverse an adoption. Our team ensures compliance with all state-specific laws and provides the support you need for a secure, permanent outcome.
TPR for Private Adoption
In both states, courts consider a child’s preferences:
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In Arizona, children 12 and older must consent to adoption.
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In Nevada, the court considers the child’s maturity and wishes, typically around age 14.
In both states, courts balance the child’s wishes with their safety, stability, and long-term interests. Even when children are reluctant to leave a biological parent, the court will intervene if staying in that environment is harmful.
The Role of the Child
In most DCS adoption cases, you must have had the child in your home for at least six months before filing the petition to adopt. Once that time has passed and there are no open investigations against the adoptive family, we can file the petition and begin preparing for the final adoption hearing.
We take every step with care to ensure your adoption is finalized without delay.
Filing the Petition to Adopt
Whether you’re seeking to terminate parental rights or defending your own, you need experienced legal support—especially because petitioners must build their case while the parent often receives free legal representation.
At EverHome Adoptions, we’ve handled these cases on both sides of the courtroom, and we understand the sensitive, high-stakes nature of each decision. Our job is to advocate for your rights, protect the child’s welfare, and bring clarity to an emotionally complex process.
Legal Representation on Either Side
Once TPR is complete and the child is legally free, adoption becomes possible. We offer full adoption representation in both Arizona and Nevada, including a low-cost estate package (will & trust) for newly adoptive families who want to protect their child's long-term security.
Planning for the Future: Adoption & Estate Support
Whether you're looking to create a forever family through adoption or preserve your role in one, EverHome Adoptions is here to help. With years of experience in child welfare, special education law, and TPR litigation across Arizona and Nevada, we approach every case with clarity, compassion, and purpose.
Contact us today to learn how we can support you through this critical stage—protecting the people and relationships that matter most.
Contact EverHome Adoptions About Termination of Parental Rights in Arizona or Nevada
Parental Rights
When is TPR Needed?
Termination of parental rights is required before a child can be adopted—whether through the foster system, private placement, or within a family. Sometimes TPR occurs with DCS/CPS (Arizona) or CPS/DCFS (Nevada) involvement after allegations of abuse or neglect. Other times, private parties (such as relatives or step-parents) initiate the process when a biological parent is absent, unfit, or voluntarily relinquishing rights.
TPR is a serious constitutional action. It severs a parent’s legal relationship to their child, and once finalized, the decision is permanent and cannot be undone. That’s why every TPR case requires thorough preparation, a clear legal basis, and experienced representation.
The TPR Process
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Filing a Petition
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Legal grounds must be clearly stated.
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A social study may be required, though waivers are possible in some kinship cases.
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Court Review
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Courts screen petitions for sufficiency. Incomplete or improper filings may be denied or require amendment.
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Hearings & Trial
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Children are appointed legal representation.
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Parents are typically entitled to court-appointed counsel, while petitioners must retain their own.
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If contested, the case proceeds to trial, where each side presents evidence.
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Judgment
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The court decides whether grounds for termination exist and whether termination serves the child’s best interests.
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Once finalized, rights are fully and permanently severed.
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Parental
Rights
Compassionate Representation on Either Side of the Case
In some cases, the most loving act a caregiver or family member can take is to seek the termination of parental rights (TPR) to provide a child with safety, stability, and permanency. In others, a parent facing the loss of rights needs an advocate to defend their bond with their child.
At EverHome Adoptions, we represent families in both Arizona and Nevada in TPR matters—from kinship caregivers preparing to adopt to biological parents fighting to preserve their rights. Justin Fernstrom brings more than a decade of experience in these cases, both as a dependency prosecutor and a family law attorney. His insight into both sides of TPR litigation ensures that your case is approached with skill, empathy, and strategic clarity.