Opinion ID: 1366844
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The validity of the termination order.

Text: In 1986 the Alaska Statutes provided for the termination of parental rights only in the context of child in need of aid proceedings under AS 47.10.080 and adoption proceedings under AS 25.23.180. [1] Our focus in the present case is on AS 25.23.180. The language of subsection (c) is dispositive of the present issue. Courts may terminate the parent and child relationship either in connection with an adoption proceeding under this chapter or in a proceeding under AS 47.10, the child in need of aid chapter. Since this was neither an adoption proceeding nor a child in need of aid proceeding, the termination order was not authorized by statute. [2] Parental termination proceedings were unknown at common law. Stephen B. Presser, The Historical Background of the American Law of Adoption, 11 J.Fam.L. 443 (1972). This means that in the absence of statutory authorization there can be no termination of parental rights and obligations. [3] It follows that the 1986 termination order was erroneously entered since it was not authorized by statute.