Which term describes the legal process that transfers custody of a child from parents to the state?

The term that accurately describes the legal process that transfers custody of a child from parents to the state is "Parental rights termination." When parental rights are terminated, it signifies that the state has legally assumed responsibility for the child, effectively severing the biological parents' legal rights and responsibilities toward the child. This process is typically seen in cases of abuse, neglect, or when parents are unable to provide a safe environment for their children.

Legal guardianship refers to a situation where a guardian is appointed to take care of a child, but the biological parents may not have their rights entirely severed. Foster care placement is a temporary arrangement where children are placed in a home due to unsafe conditions in their original home until a more permanent solution is found, but this does not involve a complete transfer of custody to the state in the way that termination of parental rights does. Adoption is a final legal process that establishes a permanent parent-child relationship, but it occurs after parental rights have been terminated.

Thus, the correct answer captures the essential legal aspect of how the child's custody moves from parents to the state in a formalized manner, outlining the gravity of the situation when parental rights are revoked.