§ 7841 Free Child Custody Control Petition

Family Code·California

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Key Takeaways

•A person who cares about a child can ask a court to take away a parent's rights to that child.
•This person must have a real reason to care, like wanting to adopt the child soon.
•The court can then decide if the child should no longer be under the parent's control.

Example

A family friend wants to adopt a child because the parents are not taking care of them properly.

The family friend can ask the court to remove the parents' rights so they can adopt the child.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 7841 Free Child Custody Control Petition

(a) An interested person may file a petition under this part for an order or judgment declaring a child free from the custody and control of either or both parents. (b) For purposes of this section, an “interested person” is one who has a direct interest in the action, and includes, but is not limited to, a person who has filed, or who intends to file within a period of 6 months, an adoption petition under Section 8714, 8802, or 9000, or a licensed adoption agency to whom the child has been relinquished by the other parent. (Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 47, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2008.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

interested person petition adoption petition licensed adoption agency

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Family Code. Section 7841.

Key Takeaways

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

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