Grandmother took kid's custody by default?

Question

This question is for a friend, I have looked up on all the information I can and find out that the internet is full of people encouraging grandparents to slip custody away from the mother. my friend let her mother in law have a power of attorney over her kids while she is working to get her life up and going again after a break up. grandma to these kids claimed she did not know where mom was, while she was in town and easilly locatable, had her phone number address and everything. my friend got her papers the day after the court date giving the grandmother custody of her children. i thought this was illegal. she never got the subpeona, the grandparents lied about mom's whereabouts and of course like every woman trying to put her life back together again, she cant afford a lawyer. can she get the judge to reverse this under perjury or something like that before she loses the kids to grandma forever. she cant even visit with them, never had a chance to plead her case because she wasnt notified about court date. so the judge gave the grandparents everything they asked for..anyone who knows anything about this, please respond with your input.

Answer 1

Yes, she can petition the courts to hear her side of the story based on fraud of the Grandmother. If the family courts wont allow this,then sue her mother for fraud and let the Judge sort all this out. Much of what you said will have to be proven so  dont use hearsay in court. She will have to act fast here. The courts will have alot of unanswered questions for her so she better be prepared for anything

Answer 2

Please understand, I CAN'T know.  So, I'm taking a shot, as a suspicious old f**t.  First, to even begin to buy the idea that Granny WANTS little kids 24/7, is tough.  I know I wouldn't have "wanted" to raise my Grandchildren.  Certainly, if a tragedy occured, but not what a person "wants".  So, it's likely this woman is doing this for reasons that seem valid to her.  This isn't final adoption, so your friend CAN fix this, if it's wrong.  Can she show a court that she is a adequate parent?  Ready to provide a home?  Or, is she still "dealing" with booze, drugs, sleeping with useless humans, or inability to keep a job?    OK.  The Grandmother is evil.  So, why doesn't your friend take the $1200 in child support, and use it to pay rent on an apartment or house???????  With that much, even a lousy job could make ir possible to live.  Why doesn't she?  Apparently, she can't, or choose not to.  So, the Grandmother is at least providing a home.  Foster care better?  Your "friennd" needs to take care of business.  Her family.  But, you are busy making excuses for her failure to bother being a parent and mother.  Crack probably.