(a) Termination of parental rights cases shall be given priority over other cases. The trial on the petition for termination of parental rights shall be completed within 90 days after service of process has been perfected. The trial court judge shall enter a final order within 30 days of the completion of the trial.
(b) If the juvenile court determines that the parents of a child are unwilling or unable to act as parents and terminates their parental rights, it may do the following:
(1) Transfer or continue the permanent legal custody of the child to the Department of Human Resources or to any public or private licensed child-placing agency able and willing to assume the care and maintenance of the child. An order of the juvenile court which terminates parental rights and awards permanent legal custody to the Department of Human Resources or to a licensed child-placing agency shall mean that the Department of Human Resources or the licensed child-placing agency shall have authority to make permanent plans for the child, including the authority to place for adoption and consent to adoption.
(2) Transfer or continue the permanent legal custody of the child to the petitioner who, after study by the Department of Human Resources, is found to be able to properly receive and care for the child.
Structure Code of Alabama
Chapter 15 - Juvenile Proceedings.
Article 3 - Dependency and Termination of Parental Rights.
Section 12-15-301 - Definitions.
Section 12-15-302 - Venue Generally.
Section 12-15-303 - Transfer of Dependency Proceedings Between Juvenile Courts Within the State.
Section 12-15-304 - Appointment by Juvenile Courts of Guardians Ad Litem.
Section 12-15-310 - Conduct of Adjudicatory Hearings.
Section 12-15-311 - Dispositional Hearing.
Section 12-15-314 - Dispositions for Dependent Children.
Section 12-15-315 - Permanency Hearing for Department of Human Resources Cases Only.
Section 12-15-317 - Who May File Petition.
Section 12-15-318 - Service of Process.
Section 12-15-320 - Dispositions.
Section 12-15-322 - Authority of One in Custody to Place Child for Adoption or Consent to Adoption.
Section 12-15-323 - Appeals of Dependency and Termination of Parental Rights Cases.