Legal Rights vs Parental Rights

**karen1970** · 06-09-2006, 01:06 PM

What's the difference in the two?

I have full legal custody of a two year old. The birth mother still has parental rights, but what does that mean?

**aaron** · 06-12-2006, 07:47 AM

The exact meaning would vary by state. You appear to mean that you have exclusive custodial rights, but the mother still has parental rights which means she could initiate court proceedings to try to get visitation or custody. If parental rights are terminated, they lose their right to seek custody or parenting time - they're effectively treated as a non-relative in court proceedings.