A. When a parent elects to relinquish parental rights to the department, a petition to accept the relinquishment shall be filed, unless an abuse or neglect proceeding is pending. If an abuse or neglect proceeding is pending, the relinquishment shall be heard in the context of that proceeding.

B. In all hearings regarding relinquishment of parental rights to the department, the child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem. If the child is fourteen years of age or older and in the custody of the department, the child's attorney appointed pursuant to the Abuse and Neglect Act [Chapter 32A, Article 4 NMSA 1978] shall represent the child in any proceeding for termination of parental rights under this section.

C. If a proposed relinquishment of parental rights is not in contemplation of adoption, the court shall not allow the relinquishment of parental rights unless it finds that good cause exists, that the department has made reasonable efforts to preserve the family and that relinquishment of parental rights is in the child's best interest. Whenever a parent relinquishes the parent's rights pursuant to this subsection, the parent shall remain financially responsible for the child. The court may order the parent to pay the reasonable costs of support and maintenance of the child. The court may use the child support guidelines set forth in Section 40-4-11.1 NMSA 1978 to calculate a reasonable payment.

D. When a parent relinquishes the parent's rights under this section, the parent shall be notified that no contact will be enforced by the court, regardless of any informal agreement, unless the parties have agreed to an open adoption pursuant to Section 32A-5-35 NMSA 1978. The consent for relinquishment shall be in writing and shall state that the parties understand that any informal agreement allowing contact will not be enforced by the courts.

History: 1978 Comp., § 32A-5-24, enacted by Laws 1993, ch. 77, § 151; 2005, ch. 189, § 66; 2009, ch. 239, § 55.

The 2009 amendment, effective July 1, 2009, in Subsection B, added the last sentence.

Applicability. — Laws 2009, ch. 239, § 71, provided that the provisions of this act apply to all children who, on July 1, 2009, are on release or are otherwise eligible to be placed on release as if the Juvenile Public Safety Advisory Board Act had been in effect at the time they were placed on release or became eligible to be released.

The 2005 amendment, effective June 17, 2005, added Subsection D, which provided that when a parent relinquishes parental rights, the parent shall be notified that no contract will be enforced by the court unless the parties have agreed to an open adoption and that the consent for relinquishment shall be in writing and shall state that the parties understand that any informal agreement allowing contact will not be enforced by the court.