Committee hears call to restore child‑support consideration in parental‑rights termination statute

A Vermont Judiciary Committee hearing on April 9 received testimony urging lawmakers to restore a line in Title 15A that would allow courts to consider a parent’s payment of child support — "within their means" — when deciding whether to terminate parental rights in adoption-related proceedings.

The question centers on language that had appeared in 15A §3504 but was repealed last year for older children while remaining in place for infants under six months. Family law practitioner Kurt Hughes told the committee the restoration would give trial courts an additional, relevant factor to decide whether a parent has exercised parental responsibilities.

"I'm just recommending that the court, that the committee, restore the statute to its original language, which will allow the court to have that financial piece to consider," Hughes said. He described a recent trial in which a respondent paid $5,000 toward arrearages during proceedings; because the subsection was removed, Hughes said that payment was not clearly available for the court to weigh.

Hu…