How do you take an abusive parent's (convicted felon) rights away from them?

Question

I'm looking for answers for Ohio law, but any info will be appreciated. The divorced mother of the children wants to terminate their father's rights because he has been arrested for child pornography and she suspects he abused their children

Answer 1

Sorry, but she should work 3 jobs if she has to in order to pay a lawyer to help her.

Even a conviction for child pornography may not be enough to terminate his rights, unless HIS children were in the photos.

Her suspicions will not win a case.  She must have proof.  She needs a lawyer and there is really no chance that she will win without one.

But the first step would be to file for sole custody without visitation for Dad.  The court's forms and rules are probably available online for the Superior Court in the county where she lives.

Answer 2

suspecting him of it and proving it (molestation) is a legal thing, you need a lawyer at this point...

being a convicted felon (depends on the charge, could be unrelated...) may have no reflection on the matter, sorry to say...

Answer 3

She would need proof that the children were abused, or no judge is going to deny the father his rights.

Answer 4

She needs to get a family law attorney and he or she will do all the work to have rights stripped.

Answer 5

She has to prove it. Only a court can terminate the Fathers (or Mothers) rights.

Answer 6

She has to prove it to a judge, but even if she can't prove it and get his parental right terminated she can go to family court and get his contact with his children very restricted and at least temporarily suspended.

She should get in contact with a nonprofit or charity organization that does social work, something like Catholic Charities (funded but not generally run by the Church, btw) and even if they can't help her themselves, they'll know where to go.

She might also contact whatever Ohio has for child services, but I know a lot of people are reluctant to bring them in for fear of losing kids to foster care. It kind of depends on what the home situation is like. I'd start with a place like Catholic Charities or even United Way (which may not be doing any of this sort of social work in that area, but is often a good resource for getting in touch with the right people.