South Carolina Code 63-7-2530. Filing procedures
(B) The department may file an action for termination of parental rights without first seeking the court‘s approval of a change in the permanency plan pursuant to § 63-7-1680 and without first seeking an amendment of the placement plan pursuant to § 63-7-1700. Additionally, the department may amend or supplement a petition for removal or a complaint for removal to include a cause of action for termination of parental rights any time after grounds for termination of parental rights are present.
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 63-7-2530
- Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
- Court: means the family court. See South Carolina Code 63-7-20
- Department: means the Department of Social Services. See South Carolina Code 63-7-20
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(C) The hearing on the petition to terminate parental rights must be held within one hundred twenty days of the date the termination of parental rights petition is filed. A party may request a continuance that would result in the hearing being held more than one hundred twenty days after the petition was filed, and the court may grant a continuance in its discretion. If a continuance is granted, the court must issue a written order scheduling the case for trial on a date and time certain.