1. The petition for termination of parental rights shall be filed in the juvenile court which has prior jurisdiction over the child or, if no such prior jurisdiction exists, then the petition shall be filed where the child is, and shall include:

(1) The name, sex, date and place of birth, and residence of the child, if known after due and diligent search;

criminal case

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Terms Used In Missouri Laws 211.452

  • Child: means any person under eighteen years of age. See Missouri Laws 211.021
  • 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.
  • Juvenile court: means the juvenile division or divisions of the circuit court of the county, or judges while hearing juvenile cases assigned to them. See Missouri Laws 211.021
  • parent: means the mother. See Missouri Laws 211.021
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020

(2) If known after due and diligent search, the name, address and the date of birth of the parent;

(3) The name and address of the person holding legal or actual custody of the child, the guardian of the person of the child and the organization or agency holding legal or actual custody or providing care for the child;

(4) The facts on which termination is sought and the ground or grounds authorizing termination pursuant to section 211.447.

2. If there is more than one child in the family and a termination of parental rights petition is being or has been prepared for each child, the court may join the cases for disposition in one proceeding; provided, however, that joinder of the cases is found to be in the best interests of each child.

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