District of Columbia Statutes
§ 16-2351 — Purpose of the subchapter; construction of provisions.
District of Columbia § 16-2351
JurisdictionDistrict of Columbia
Title 16Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]
Ch. 23Family Division [Family Court] Proceedings.
Subch. IIIProceedings Regarding the Termination of Parental Rights of Certain Neglected Children.
This text of District of Columbia § 16-2351 (Purpose of the subchapter; construction of provisions.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Bluebook
D.C. Code § 16-2351 (2026).
Text
(a)The general purposes of this subchapter are to:
(1)encourage stability in the lives of certain children who have been adjudicated neglected and have been removed from the custody of their parent by providing judicial procedures for the permanent termination of the parent and child relationship in the circumstances set forth in this subchapter;
(2)ensure that the constitutional rights of all parties are recognized and enforced in all proceedings conducted pursuant to this subchapter while ensuring that the fundamental needs of children are not subjugated to the interests of others; and
(3)increase the opportunities for the prompt adoptive placement of children for whom parental rights have been terminated.
(b)This subchapter shall be liberally construed to promote the gene
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
Related
In re A.B.E.
564 A.2d 751 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1989)
S.S. v. D.M.
597 A.2d 870 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1991)
In re A.C.
597 A.2d 920 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1991)
In re A.W.
569 A.2d 168 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1990)
Matter of Baby Girl DS
600 A.2d 71 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1991)
In re M.M.M.
485 A.2d 180 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1984)
In re A.S.C.
671 A.2d 942 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1996)
In re C.O.W.
519 A.2d 711 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1987)
In re S.M.
985 A.2d 413 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2009)
W.D. v. C.S.M.
906 A.2d 317 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2006)
In re A.W.K.
778 A.2d 314 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2001)
In re L.H.
634 A.2d 1230 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1993)
In re D.R.
673 A.2d 1259 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1996)
In re T.M.
665 A.2d 207 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1995)
E.C. v. District of Columbia
589 A.2d 1245 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1991)
In re C.M.
916 A.2d 169 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2007)
In re D.M. T.M.
86 A.3d 584 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2014)
Matter of ABE
564 A.2d 751 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1989)
Matter of COW
519 A.2d 711 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1987)
Legislative History
Sept. 23, 1977, D.C. Law 2-22, title IV, § 410, 24 DCR 3341
Nearby Sections
15
§ 16-1001
Definitions.§ 16-1002
Complaint of criminal conduct.§ 16-1005
Hearing; evidence; protection order.§ 16-1006
Jurisdiction.§ 16-1007
Notice to parties.§ 16-101
Parties.§ 16-1021
Definitions.§ 16-1022
Prohibited acts.§ 16-1024
Penalties.§ 16-1025
Prosecution by Attorney General.§ 16-1026
Expungement.§ 16-1031
Arrests.Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
Bluebook (online)
District of Columbia § 16-2351, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/dc/16-2351.