Any birthparent who plans to petition the court for the voluntary termination of parental rights shall obtain counseling regarding the termination from a licensed child-placement agency as defined in § 26-6-14, the Department of Social Services, or either a certified social worker eligible to engage in private independent practice as defined in § 36-26-17, a licensed counselor, or a licensed psychologist, each of whom must have at least two years of experience in adoption practice.
S.D. Codified Laws § 25-5A-22
Counseling before termination of parental rights
Applied in 3 court decisions — leading case In Re the Termination of Parental Rights of Ibanez (2013)
Most recently applied in In Re the Termination of Parental Rights of Ibanez (June 2013)
Source: SL 1994, ch 197, § 1.
Official source: South Dakota Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain South Dakota statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.