Question about CUSTODY of children and a parent with "clean/sober" time?

Question

this is a long story. paternal grandparents adopted children. house fire 1 1/2 years ago killed grandfather and now the grandmother (adoptive mother) whereabouts are unknown. moved with daughter who refuses to give address (also grandmother is 70 yrs old and is paralyzed from a stroke and is incapacitated). children have resided with maternal aunt since fire. Children's Services are in the process of terminating parental rights. Can the biological mother (who has been in their lives) and have 4 1/2 years Clean & Sober regain custody back of the children? I know that parents do get their kids back with recovery time. I've heard people say YES and some say NO. Some social workers, judges, etc. will allow parents to get kids & some won't. Does this mother have a chance to get custody???

Answer 1

Well, I certainly hope she can get custody, because these kids certainly sound like they need stability, and it sounds as if their mom could now provide that for them.

The reason some people say Yes and some say No, is that it really does depend on the Social Services in your area, and particularly on the individual Social Worker(s) and most especially the Judge.

No one really knows how that will go (especially not any of us here!), but YES she DOES have a shot at this and she should ABSOLUTELY try!

Good luck to everyone involved.

Answer 2

Oh wow how sad....I am glad she is back in their lives clean and sober.. These are such extreme circumstances. She should absolutely try!!! She has stepped up to the plate and shown she loves her kids, is responsible and STILL an important influence in their lives. Based on what you have told us I do not think the kids would benefit from having their ties with their mother irreversibly severed. But she needs to move FAST!

Answer 3

What a sad story! I feel for everyone, but especially those kids! Have the kids been with the Aunt for a year and half? Does the aunt want to keep them? I think it would be wonderful if the mother could be back in their life as long as she can stay clean and sober and provide for their needs, but I think the kids should get to have some say in where they want to live now! I am not sure if the courts can or will return the kids to the mother! I would to know how this turns out!