Can I take legal custody of a child at 17?
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Can I take legal custody of a child at 17?
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I just turned 17 two months ago. I have held a job at a fast food restaurant for 9 months. I live at home with my adopted mother, her husband and their baby. My school grades have greatly improved over the last two years averaging a 3.5GPA.
The child is 2 1/2 years old (the same age as my baby brother). He is my sister's son. She is neglecting him. She does drugs and doesn't have a job.
The reason for my adoption was that my oldest sister didn't want me to grow up in the same abusive and neglected house that both my sisters were in. She was 18 by the time I was born. Now my other sister is falling into the same pattern my biological parents were in and the baby is suffering. My oldest sister has given up on trying to help them out and wants nothing to do with them. I cannot just keep waiting around for something serious to happen. I think that my home would make a much better environment than one he is in currently.
My sister lives in Indiana and I'm in Illinois. She would never willingly give the baby up. He has already been in the ER. due to her neglect. Child services are looking into her case but they are hard to prove. I don't want to adopt the baby, just take him out of that environment. My mom already has three kids, including me, and the youngest has a medical condition that makes him require constant attention and has high medical bills. She doesn't need the burden of raising my nephew.
I just need any suggestion you can give. I would be willing to care for the baby until I could find a stable home for him. I have not discussed this with my mom yet because I don't think she should even start worrying about it until I know all the options for the baby.
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Angela R
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No, until you are 18, you are considered a minor, and cannot be legally responcible for another minor. Also, if your sister would never give up custody, and child services has looked into the situation, and has decided not to remove the child, then there's really not much you can do, exept keep an eye on the situation, and contact the social worker if there is more reason for concern.
Also, even once you turn 18, if the child is removed social services will likely place such a young child with another foster family, rather then you. They do like to keep children with family members, but there's a big difference between allowing a teenager or preteen to live with her 18 yr old sister, and giving the responcibility of an abused toddler to a young person that just turned 18, even if you are his aunt. |
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nana(dueOCT19)
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i dont think you can but its worth a try.. |
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Wolf Pack
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no u have to be 18 to foster or adopt |
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Blackbird
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You should talk to your mom about it first of all... just tell her that you are really worried about the baby and about how you were adopted out to her because of simular reasons and want her nephew to have the chances you had because you had someone who cared about you. Tell her you would take full reponsiblity of the child should it come into your care and you would be willing to but all of your pay check towards his costs...
Just talk about it first and then see what needs to happen after, |
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LadyCatherine
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talk to your sister about letting him come for a 'visit' then wait until you are 18 to try and adopt him or get guardianship of him.. by then she might go with the idea.. |
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allchildrenareangels
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You should talk to your mom about it. It won't be that big of a burden to her and I am sure she would be more then happy to help you. You might need your mom to help in order to get gaurdianship. I mean even if your mom is the one who gets gaurdianship you could still take care of him. Just talk to your mom about it. Then the two of you could work together to find a good home for him. It might be hard to find a home through an agency because, of his age. A lot of potential adoptive parents go to talk at cafe mom. That might be a good place to try to find AP. Just make sure to really get to know them. When you meet the parents to check them out. Make sure your mom goes with you. Also make sure you do it in a public place and don't tell them where you live. You can get to know them in a public place. When they get their homestudy they will check their back ground and everything else. That way you are sure what kind of people they are. I am sure you will find moms on there that would be more then happy to give a 2 year old boy a loving and stable home. Good luck.
Love,
Michelle |
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