myself or my parents are thinking about adopting my sister's baby.?

Question

We feel that she is not taking good care of the baby. My sister and her boyfreind are morre concerned about another aspect of their lives. What should we do? thanks for your help

Answer 1

Discuss with your parents the choice you will all be comfortable with. Whomever wants to adopt has to be screened and go through the court process. There is a home inspection, and if you are a single parent, you will have to attend parenting classes. It is a good move for the child and your sister. It will keep your family together, instead of sending the child into a life of strangers and/or abuse. it is good the child will be raised with relatives.
Approaching your sister about this, does she know? Is she already in trouble with the child, and the adoption can prevent the state from taking the child. Approach her carefully as you don't want her to run away with the baby. Ask for her assistance, maybe an open adoption if you are up to it. An open adoption can set limits on the biological mother, and allow her visits, so she won't feel shut out of her child's life.

Answer 2

Why not help your sister become the mother that you think she should be? If you and your mother are talking about one of you raising the child, than the child cannot be in immediate danger, as you have taken no action as of yet to help the child. You say that she is 'not taking good care' of the baby, what exactly does that mean? Have you discussed this with your sister, does she know that you and your mother disapprove of how she is parenting her baby?

If the baby is in danger then call CPS. They will put the child in temporary foster care while giving your sister parenting classes and helping her to become a more fit parent is a better life situation. If CPS does not need to be involved than discuss your concerns with your sister and offer to help her take better care of the baby.

Kinship adoptions are very tough situations to navigate through. If your mother were to adopt the baby, the grandmother would become the mother, the mother would become the sister, the aunt would become the sister to the child, and while all the relationships of individuals change when it comes to the child, they stay the same in relation to everyone else...it is TOUGH. Kinship adoptions tend to split families, pitting members against one another as they choose sides between the adoptive side of the family, and the biological parents...its a mess for everyone involved, especially the child.

Help your sister out, or call CPS if you feel it is beyond giving a helping hand. If CPS deems that the enviornment is not safe for the child to be returned to, than the case plan will change from reunification to adoption, and relatives who come forward offering to adopt are given first choice in most states. If and when the baby goes into state care is when you should notify the state that you would be interested in adoption (so they do not recruit for a home before hearing that you would be willing to raise the baby) and get your foster parenting license so that you are ready and able to take the child if the chance arises.

Good luck

Answer 3

If you think the baby is being neglected or abused you can call child services on your sister. They'll investigate, and if they decide the baby is at risk they would probably be willing to let the baby live with a relative until your sister gets her act together. Of course, if they determine that there's something wrong with the relatives or their home they'll put the baby in foster care in a stranger's home instead.

Your sister's baby is not, as far as you've described things, up for adoption. Chances are if the authorities investigate the first thing they'd try to do is get your sister to do what's right and take good care of her own baby. Authorities try to leave babies with their mothers if at all possible. Authorities would tell you, too, that they only intervene when a child is believed to be neglected or abused. They are not allowed to intervene if someone just has a lifestyle others don't approve of.

Answer 4

It's very hard to do. The parents have to be declared "unfit parents" by the court.
You'll NEVER do it without a good attorney specializing in family law.
The best way to start is to meet with an attorney and discuss the situation. Most attorneys will give you free consultation.
Be prepared to pay A LOT of money to an attorney and the whole process will take years. Ask an attorney about temporary guardianship of the child first. It's easier to get then full adoption, but you'll be able to make all the decisions regarding this kid. Then you might get permanent guardianship, and then MAYBE adoption.
Sorry to disappoint you, but it is VERY, VERY hard to take a child from natural parents.
One more thing, if you can prove that the child is in danger with the parents, it will be easier to get temporary guardianship.
If the child is really in danger right now, call Child Protective Agency.
All this is if the kid's parents object to adoption. If they agree, it's much easier, but still you'll need an attorney to do it right.

Answer 5

It won't be easy if your sister and her boy friend don't agree to give up the rights. They may not be taking proper care but if there is no document ion or CPS is not involved, it will be up to them to let you. You might start with asking them to let the baby stay with you or your folks on a permanent basis. Then perhaps go for guardianship. With the baby not being around it will either free them up or make them realize what they are losing. At any rate, if the child is away from them for a while, contact a lawyer and take the steps needed to complete the adoption or ask the parents to give up rights after the child has lived away from them for a while

Answer 6

Adoption is a huge step. Its means your sister and her boyfriend have to give up all their rights now and in the future. My guess is that they won't agree to that. What I would suggest is that during one of your sister's more "lucid" and caring moments, you ask her about consenting to an arrangement for care of the baby. Approach her with what is in the best interest of her child - not telling her she is a terrible mother! Maybe she is now - but will she continue to be? Will she someday shape up and want to raise her child herself? If that is at all possible, she should have the opportunity and her baby should have the opportunity to be brought up with at least her mother if not her mother and father both. Your arrangement could be just a simple notarized agreement, signed by all parties, that you all agree that the best interest of the baby would be for you and/or your parents to take responsibility for the baby until such time as they are able to do it themselves. These types of agreements are really only binding for one year (although they may not know that). If after one year, they still do not seem to want to come around - you could then petition the court for guardianship or adoption. You would then have the agreement on your side and the fact that the child has lived with you and done well for that year. Good luck to you all - but most of all - all my best to that little baby - who needs and deserves loving caregivers!

Answer 7

Is the child in danger? Not being fed? Being abused? If any of this is happening you can contact Department of Human Services. They may remove the child from your sisters care and place in a foster home until your sister gets the help she needs to be a more productive mother. At the time DHS comes in you or your mom could make an attempt to adopt in the event your sister is proven to be an unfit mother.

Answer 8

Adoption is beautiful! My parents adopted my sisters baby when she was only 16. However, if your sister is not WILLING to give the baby up for adoption, you can't do it. You can call social services to investigate and try to have the baby removed from her home and put under your care. If she's not doing anything WRONG, though, that won't work either. I'll assume that she is willing and wish you the best of luck!

Answer 9

The biggest problem with a family member adopting the baby is that she will always be there trying to get it back and causing headaches. If the baby is not being well cared for it is kind of you to want to take it in, you might start out by doing it as a favor to see if she will come around and smell the roses....................good luck

Answer 10

Well first of all are you, your mom or dad talking to her all the time. Because it's either gonna be her or the baby. It's either talking to your sister and watchin what you say she does to the baby or taking care of the baby.

1) if she's doing drugs bust her on it. She can go to rehab and do like a week in jail. And she can get her head straight its her with her boyfriend or her and her baby.

2) She will probally through a fit and get all defensive. Thinking you turned on her. But if it's whats best then she can learn to let it go.

I know what your going threw my sister was neglecting her baby and cps took him and gave him to my sister's dad and step mom. She can't go over to their house because then they will take him away. The grand parents have guardianship for him right now but they will have to go back to court. The baby is better off with them.