Rule 25 - Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights(a) Filing of Petition. A voluntary termination of parental rights petition may be filed by any licensed or governmental child placement agency at the request of the parent or parents of a child under eighteen (18) years of age.(b) Hearing. After any notice to the parent or parents that the court deems proper, the court shall hold a hearing on the merits of the petition. If the court finds after examination of the parent or parents that the parent or parents freely, knowingly, and voluntarily wish to terminate parental rights and that the granting of the petition is in the best interests of the child, the court may grant the petition and order that the consent of the parent or parents to a subsequent adoption petition shall no longer be necessary and that the agency shall be the guardian of the child for all purposes and the sole party to give or withhold consent to adoption.(c) Consent of Minor Parent. The court shall require the written consent of one (1) of the parents, guardians, or guardian ad litem of any minor parent who wishes to consent to any termination of rights pursuant to G.L. 1956 § 15-7-6. If the whereabouts of both parents of the minor parent are unknown, that fact shall be sworn to by the petitioner or an authorized officer or official of the licensed or governmental child placement agency after notice in accordance with Rule 32. The court may grant the petition upon a finding that the granting of the petition for adoption or the termination of rights is in the best interest of the child. (d) Challenge to Termination of Right to Give or Withhold Consent for Adoption. Any challenge or petition to reverse a termination of a parent's right to give or withhold consent for adoption shall be filed no later than one hundred eighty (180) days after a judgment, decree, or an order is entered.Adopted March 1, 2019, effective 7/1/2019; amended April 30, 2019, effective 11/4/2019; amended November 5, 2019, effective 1/6/2020.