I'm a 24 year old female (California) and my dad beat up my little brother (they live in South Dakota) and now he is in jail. My little brother is in foster care (this happend 3 days ago) My dad may go to prison and is in bad health, regardless my dad wanted me to take care of my little brother (he is 7) What's the difference between getting custody of him and adopting him? In order for me to financially be able to take care of him I would move to Houston, TX much sooner than I had planned, but it still will work. My dad gets money monthly either from the mother(who gave up her rights) or by the state. This whole thing is a friggin mess. My mother (not the same as my little brothers mom) has been helping my dad take care of my little brother, but she can't get him because she is not his "real"family, but she will help me take care of him. I just dont want him to grow up in foster homes. I need to step up and take care of him. I dont know how to go about it from out here.
2007-05-17 11:50:18 · 4 answers · asked by Nia 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
I had already had a planned trip to go home (south dakota) to visit in a month, but now i think I'll be spending a lot of time trying to figure out how to go about all this. HELP. I dont know where to begin and am kinda scared of taking a responsibilty this huge. I grew up as an only child unitl he was born, and when he was 2 or 3 I moved out to Cali, but talk to and see him when i can. He's gone thru so much bad stuff with my dad that he acts out in school and has been going to counseling. Am I crazy to try to step in or could i be the change he needs?
2007-05-17 11:54:05 · update #1
and i should mention also that my mom and dad are NOT together she moved back home adn my dad got sick, the awesome woman she is, she decided to help my dad out and loves my little brother like he is her own. which is fabulous.
2007-05-17 12:03:21 · update #2
Is adopting him better than getting custody of him? And is it a hard process to adopt a family member, will they deny me? :(
2007-05-17 12:04:55 · update #3
I work for DCFS. What you need to do is talk with your brothers case worker and let her know you want him. That way the state of Caifornia will pay for the court cost and the adoption. Custody gives you authority over him but adopting him, he will be your son/brother. Your father would have to surrender his rights to have you adopt him, or the State can terminate his rights. You are the likely person (relative) to adopt him.
2007-05-17 11:57:55 · answer #1 · answered by lzbthsykes 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't really know what to do, but I would consider talking to an attorney about the differences between getting custody and adopting him.
Know this isn't much help, but I admire you for wanting to do the right thing and get your brother out of the he__ hole that he is in right now.
Good luck.
2007-05-17 11:59:14 · answer #2 · answered by Su-Nami 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i suggest you contact family serivces and let them know that you want him before he gets bounced around. Poor little thing must be scared. You do not need to adopt him however first thing is first once he is with you you can draw up custody papers and present them to your father and ask him to terminate his rights. That is the easy way...the hard way is to hire an attorney to gain full legal custody of him. Good luck and take care of your little brother......
He might need some extra TLC during this transition....counseling might help too
2007-05-17 13:41:59 · answer #3 · answered by Stephanie P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
usually, the child would be put with natural family. didn't the courts contact you at all?you need to get in touch with the courts. find out who his court appointed guardian is and go from there. you shouldn't have a problem with this at all. as far as adoption, i don't know. you'll have to ask the judge about that. best of luck to you. i hope your brother is well and safe.
2007-05-17 12:23:31 · answer #4 · answered by racer 51 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋