Q: If my rights to my youngest child were involuntarily terminated, does that also terminate my rights to my previous two?
I have a son who's gonna be 15 in July, and a daughter who is 10, with one woman. After we separated, we managed to agree to visitation, and custody, without going to court. She has had physical custody of both of them for the last few years. During that time I had another daughter who just turned 3. My rights to her were involuntarily terminated due to chemical dependency, about 7 months ago. I have been sober now about 5 months, and my son would like to live with me. What rights do I have? Are my rights terminated to all my children? I live in Minnesota.
A:
Termination of rights to one child does not terminate rights to other children.
You indicated that you and the mother have "separated" and agreed to custody and visitation. Were or are you married to one another? If not, you have no enforceable parental rights unless you go to court, are adjudicated the father, and awarded parenting time with the children.
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