Adopting a family memeber?

Question

This is just a shot in the dark, but would anyone know the proper procedures for adopting a family member under the age of 2? Parents: suspended license & drugs. Unsafe enviornment.

Answer 1

Listed below are the adoption laws of the fifty states.  There is explanations in these laws regarding adopting family members.  I hope this helps!  Good Luck!

Answer 2

Just a thought...have you called social services to report the parents.. be specific... drugs within reach of children?  Children exposed to second hand smoke from illegal substances?  Children not supervised/cared for especially when they are high?  Exposure to random, potentially dangerous people?  Medical care not being provided?   **Your identity will not be shared with your family member.

Unfortunately, if they parents are not wanting to give up the child,  it's probably going to be years before anything is final.    However, for the sake of the child, I would start building a social services file.  

Other than that, continue to pray for a cover of protection around the child and for your family to get it together

Answer 3

they have to agree to this

Answer 4

First the child has to be removed from the parents. If you feel the child is in danger, call the authoirties. I would not do so annonamously though. Tell the police and or cps who you are, your relation to the family and child, and let them know you would be willing to care for the child if need be. However, you must also understand that just because you are family does not mean you will get the little one. You must be approved prior to placement, and if the child is removed befor you get approved, she or she will be going into foster care. The suspended license does not make it an unsafe environment. There are many families that neither parent has a license and they use a taxi service. As long as the child is getting to and from where they need to be, like dr appts and the grocery store, the lack of a license is not grounds to have the child removed. However, the drugs my be. You will need proof of this, and lots of it. Unless the child is in direct harms way, being abused or neglected, you are most likely not going to be able to have him or her removed. What I would recomend is trying to use the parents lack of responsability to you and the child's advantage. Offer to babysit, and do so often. Keep the child overnight if the parents will allow. The more contact and involvement you have the better. You will be able to watch out for signs of abuce and neglect, and get a chance to bond with the little one. Just remember, what is appearant on the outside is not always the cas eon the inside. Make sure you have a solid case, with plenty of proof, then involve the police and social services.

Answer 5

Contact an adoption attorney.

Answer 6

You can start out with kinship foster care if you get a call that they're in jail.  Call Child Welfare (go to http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist... to see the contact info for your state) when/if you get the call & ask to foster your family member.

If you want to start the ball rolling, you should probably consult an attorney about what the process is and the requirements and all.

I wish you the absolute best with this!  It sounds like it's not a healthy environment for the child.

Answer 7

First, are the child's parents in agreement to have you adopt their child?  If yes, then go to a lawyer who specializes in adoption and he could guide you. There may be classes, homestudies to be done. Plus lots of background checks and paperwork.  But if they don't want you to adopt or don't even know about it, then if you really feel the child is in an unsafe environment, call social services or cps. whatever its called in your area. Or if necessary call the police.