Alabama § 12-15-317 - Who May File Petition.

§ 12-15-317. Who May File Petition.

The Department of Human Resources, any public or private licensed child-placing agency, parent, child, or any interested person may file a petition to terminate the parental rights of a parent or parents of a child.

(1) Mandatory filing of petition by the Department of Human Resources. The Department of Human Resources shall be required to file a petition to terminate the parental rights of a parent or parents of a child, or if the petition has been filed by another party, shall seek to be joined as a party to the petition, and, concurrently, to identify, recruit, process, and approve a qualified family for adoption, in the following circumstances:

a. In the case of a child who has been in foster care in the custody of the Department of Human Resources for 12 of the most recent 22 months.

b. If a child has been abandoned.

c. If the parent has committed murder of another child of that parent.

d. If the parent has committed manslaughter of another child of that parent.

e. If the parent has aided, abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit murder or manslaughter of another child of that parent.

f. If the parent has committed a felony assault that has resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined in paragraph c. of subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of Section 12-15-319, to the child, to another child of the parent, or to the other parent of the child.

(2) Exceptions to mandatory filing shall include any of the following factors:

a. The child is being cared for by a relative.

b. The Department of Human Resources has documented in the individualized service plan, which shall be available for review by the juvenile court, a compelling reason for determining that filing a petition would not be in the best interests of the child.

c. The Department of Human Resources has not provided to the family of the child, consistent with the time period in the individualized service plan of the Department of Human Resources, such services as the Department of Human Resources deems necessary for the safe return of the child to his or her home, if reasonable efforts are required to be made with respect to the child.