Opinion ID: 2602482
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Modification of Procedure For Terminating Parental Rights in Dependent Children of the Juvenile Court

Text: In 1987, as part of a comprehensive revision of laws affecting children, the Legislature modified the procedure for terminating parental rights in dependent children of the juvenile court. The Legislature eliminated the need to file a separate civil action pursuant to Civil Code [former] section 232 to terminate parental rights and provided that all termination proceedings for children who are dependents of the court are to be heard in the juvenile court as part of the regular review process. ( In re Marilyn H. (1993) 5 Cal.4th 295, 303, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 544, 851 P.2d 826, italics added [discussing Stats. 1987, ch. 1485, p. 5598]; see Welf. & Inst. Code, § 366.26.) The new scheme applies to children adjudged dependent on or after January 1, 1989. ( In re Marilyn H., supra, at p. 303, 19 Cal.Rptr.2d 544, 851 P.2d 826.)