(A) If the court finds that a ground for termination, as provided for in § 63-7-2570, exists, the court may issue an order forever terminating parental rights to the child. Where the petitioner is an authorized agency, the court shall place the child in the custody of the petitioner or other child-placing agency for adoption and shall require the submission of a plan for permanent placement of the child within thirty days after the close of the proceedings to the court and to the child’s guardian ad litem. Within an additional sixty days the agency shall submit a report to the court and to the guardian ad litem on the implementation of the plan. The court, on its own motion, may schedule a hearing to review the progress of the implementation of the plan.

(B) If the court finds that no ground for termination exists and the child is in the custody of the Department of Social Services, the order denying termination must specify a new permanent plan for the child or order a hearing on a new permanent plan.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 63-7-2580

  • Child: means a person under the age of eighteen. See South Carolina Code 63-7-20
  • 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
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Guardian: means a person who legally has the care and management of a child. See South Carolina Code 63-1-40
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Parent: means biological parent, adoptive parents, step-parent, or person with legal custody. See South Carolina Code 63-1-40
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

(C) If the court determines that an additional permanency hearing is not needed, the court may order:

(1) the child returned to the child’s parent if the parent has counterclaimed for custody and the court determines that the return of the child to the parent would not cause an unreasonable risk of harm to the child’s life, physical health or safety, or mental well-being. The court may order a specified period of supervision and services not to exceed twelve months;

(2) a disposition provided for in § 63-7-1700(E) if the court determines that the child should not be returned to a parent.

(D)(1) If the court determines that an additional permanency hearing is required, the court’s order shall schedule a permanency hearing to be held within fifteen days of the date the order is filed. The court’s order must be sufficient to continue jurisdiction over the parties without any need for filing or service of pleadings by the department. The permanency hearing must be held before the termination of parental rights trial if reasonably possible.

(2) At the hearing, the department shall present a proposed disposition and permanent plan in accordance with § 63-7-1700. No supplemental report may be required. The hearing and any order issuing from the hearing shall conform to § 63-7-1700.

(3) If the court approves retention of the child in foster care pursuant to § 63-7-1700(E), any new plan for services and placement of the child must conform to the requirements of § 63-7-1680. § 63-7-1680 requires the plan to address conditions that necessitated removal of the child, but the plan approved pursuant to this subsection shall address conditions that necessitate retention of the child in foster care.

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