My sister in law 51 and neice 10 is living with us. My sister in law was last seen on Monday morning leaving her daughter in our care. She called her daughter last night indicating that she is not coming home again, last time she saw her daughter was Monday morning. What do I do, she constently lies to us as to her were abouts and is always drinking. She cares more about herself then her own child.
2007-10-18 07:52:09 · 7 answers · asked by questionable mother 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
Your SIL has really placed you in a predicament because who is responsible for this child if she gets hurt or needs a school permission slip signed or some other reason?
So first, you and your husband need to determine if this child would be welcome in your family. She has to be welcome not out of guilt - but as though you were going to adopt her legally. Which you might do eventually.
Then call a lawyer and get some really solid advice about filing for full custody.
This is not going to be pretty. You're going to have to file abandonment papers etc. etc. and charge the mother with being an unfit parent. It's going to create all kinds of rifts within the family - especially if SIL has "enablers" well-meaning but in-denial relatives who keep saying "This is just a phase..." or something like that.
But the thing is, someone has to be able to sign papers if this little girl has appendicitis or something like that. Right now, you can't.
So do it quick. Good luck.
2007-10-18 08:07:48 · answer #1 · answered by Barbara B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As much as I hate to say this, you will have to get the authorities involved. Your sister in law has indicated that she is self centered and wants no part of the responsibilities. Where's the Father of this child?
Right now, she's secure in knowing that she can come and go and not worry about the consequences or her daughter. At 51, she's acting more like a teenager.
Time to give her a big reality check. Child services are more likely to place the child with you than ship her to a foster home. Consult with a lawyer about starting proceedings to adopt if that's the way you want to go.
2007-10-18 15:13:24 · answer #2 · answered by Steven D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not say where you live. Where I live you should report her as abandoning her child. If your neice needs medical care or anything you might have trouble getting that for her. You could apply for temporary custody of her. She cannot just leave her child and come back when she wants to. Your neice needs more stability than that. If you don't know who to call I would ask one of her teachers. They will know what to do and who to call.
2007-10-18 15:26:42 · answer #3 · answered by kim h 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if ur willing to care for this child then u should without any strings attatched, her mother may be going thru some stuff and needs to get help, don't try to take this child from her mother and don't talk bad about her either this child will resent this and in no time at all she will not come either. just be loving and offer this chil a safe stable home, it's probably something she has never had! hey she's just a kid!
2007-10-18 15:13:20 · answer #4 · answered by gurlynmgurl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you care about this child, file for custody. The child is probably hurt by being deserted. But you must get custody or the mother could come and get her at any time and put her in a dangerous situation.
2007-10-18 15:11:49 · answer #5 · answered by witchywish 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get gaurdianship of her. My parents did it fairly easy with my brothers child
2007-10-18 15:06:27 · answer #6 · answered by natasha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
file for custody
Children need people who will love and take care of them
2007-10-18 15:14:28 · answer #7 · answered by God Fire 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋