Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 17a — SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICES AND RESOURCES · Chapter 319a — Child Welfare
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-111a (2026)

Commissioner of Children and Families to file petition to terminate parental rights, when

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall file a petition to terminate parental rights pursuant to section 17a-112 if (1) the child has been in the custody of the commissioner for at least fifteen consecutive months, or at least fifteen months during the twenty-two months, immediately preceding the filing of such petition; (2) the child has been abandoned as defined in subsection (j) of section 17a-112; or (3) a court of competent jurisdiction has found that (A) the parent has killed, through deliberate, nonaccidental act, a sibling of the child or has requested, commanded, importuned, attempted, conspired or solicited to commit the killing of the child or a sibling of the child; or (B) the parent has assaulted the child or a sibling of a child, through deliberate, nonaccidental act, and such assault resulted in serious bodily injury to such child.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner is not required to file a petition to terminate parental rights in such cases if the commissioner determines that: (1) The child has been placed under the care of a relative of such child; (2) there is a compelling reason to believe that filing such petition is not in the best interests of the child; or (3) the parent has not been offered the services contained in the permanency plan to reunify the parent with the child or such services were not available, unless a court has determined that efforts to reunify the parent with the child are not required.

(P.A. 98-241, S. 6, 18; P.A. 00-137, S. 13.)

History: P.A. 98-241 effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-137 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to change reference from Sec. 17a-112 (c) to Sec. 17a-112 (j).

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2008–2023 · leading case: Fish v. Fish, 939 A.2d 1040 (Conn. 2008).
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Fish v. Fish, 939 A.2d 1040 (Conn. 2008). · cites it 2× “If the child is committed to the department, the state thereafter may seek to continue the placement, to return the child to the parent or to terminate parental rights.”
In re Adelina A., 148 A.3d 621 (Conn. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 2× “21 (i) ; see also General Statutes § 17a-111a (a). Finally, state law requires a court to find by clear and convincing evidence that adoption is not possible or appropriate prior to issuing an order for permanent legal guardianship.”
In re Jacob W., 172 A.3d 1274 (Conn. App. Ct. 2017). · cites it 2× “The report shall indicate the physical, mental and emotional status of the child and shall contain such facts as may be relevant to the court's determination of whether the proposed termination of parental rights will be in the best interests of the child, including the…”
In re Natalie S., 139 A.3d 824 (Conn. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 4× “8 It is not an appeal from a termination of parental rights adjudication and disposition pursuant to *832 General Statutes § 17a-111a 9 et seq., including § 17a-111b (a).”
In re Unique R., 156 A.3d 1 (Conn. App. Ct. 2017). · cites it 4× “General Statutes § 17a-111a provides in relevant part: "(a) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall file a petition to terminate parental rights pursuant to section 17a-112 if (1) the child has been in the custody of the commissioner for at least fifteen consecutive…”
In re Skylar B. (Conn. App. Ct. 2021). · cites it 11× “12 General Statutes § 17a-111a provides: ‘‘(a) The Commissioner of Chil- dren and Families shall file a petition to terminate parental rights pursuant to section 17a-112 if (1) the child has been in the custody of the commissioner for at least fifteen consecutive months, or at…”
In re Tresin J. (Conn. 2020). · cites it 2× “2 Connecticut has codified this federal statutory requirement at General Statutes § 17a-111a (a), which provides in relevant part that ‘‘[t]he Commis- sioner of Children and Families shall file a petition to terminate parental rights pursuant to section 17a-112 if (1) the child…”
In re Omar I. (Conn. App. Ct. 2020). · cites it 2× “General Statutes § 17a-111a provides in relevant part: ‘‘(a) The Commis- sioner of Children and Families shall file a petition to terminate parental rights pursuant to section 17a-112 if (1) the child has been in the custody of the commissioner for at least fifteen consecutive…”
In re A'vion A. (Conn. App. Ct. 2023). · cites it 2× “months’’); General Statutes § 17a-110a (a) (‘‘[i]n order to achieve early perma- nency for children, decrease children’s length of stay in foster care, reduce the number of moves children experience in foster care and reduce the amount of time between termination of parental…”
— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-111a(b) — 1 case
In re Unique R., 156 A.3d 1 (Conn. App. Ct. 2017). “General Statutes § 17a-111a provides in relevant part: "(a) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall file a petition to terminate parental rights pursuant to section 17a-112 if (1) the child has been in the custody of the commissioner for at least fifteen consecutive…”
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