Some helpful information?

Question

i am 15 my mother passed and my father i was adopted at birth..and my aunt want to take custody of me but,they said it could take up to a year before i can live with her.thats how the courts in illinois work.i live in texas.....im currnetly liveing in a foster home untile everything is taken care of..i was wondering what can i do to make this go faster...that i could get their befor the holidays...and do they have to track down my boligical mother to forfeit rights but since i was legaly adopted....she shouldnt be located..anyone have some kind of hopeful information plz tell me

Answer 1

Try to get a guardianship set up.

Answer 2

I don't know about the length of time it will take. I do know that the adoptive mother would have had to sign a consent for the birthmother, that is irrevocable at the time of adoption saying that if anything should happen to her that you should be placed back with your birthmother. Unless this was included in the court procedings, then your birthmother has no legal rights in this matter and you should eventually be placed with a responsible family member on your adoptive side.

I know this isn't much help, and I am truely sorry for your loss.

Answer 3

First, I'm SO sorry to hear about your loss.  How terrible.

Your biological mother shouldn't have to be notified since in order for an adoption to be finalized by your adoptive parents, her rights would have had to have been voluntarily or involuntarily terminated.

I'm thinking that your parents must not have made a will saying who should get custody of you upon their death.  That means that it all has to go to court and be decided by the judge.

If I were you, I'd get in touch with my Guardian Ad Litim (if you don't know who this is, ask your social worker) and see if he/she can give you advice for anything you or your aunt could to to make the process go more smoothly.

You're a very lucky 15 year old to be in a foster home rather than a group home.  Where I live there is a vast shortage of foster families...but there's an even bigger shortage of foster homes who will take teens (we prefer teens!).  Many of the teens in our state end up in group homes just because of the shortage rather than the teens being difficult or anything.

Stay in contact as much as possible with your aunt.  My heart and prayers go out to you & I hope your case is resolved quickly so you can be with family!

Answer 4

So your adoptive mother has passed away, your adoptive father cannot raise you and you want to live with your adoptive aunt. But the court system is too slow and you're stuck in foster care until they can legally get you adopted by your aunt?

Suggest your aunt having temoporary guardianship over you while you wait in foster care so that you can be in her home and out of foster homes.

If you would like to find your natural mother, I don't think the states will help you until you are 18. I'm sorry, they seal our records in most states and you can't access anything until then. I would have you adoptive father request your non identifying information from the state your adoption was finalized in and see what you can do from there. Anything he can do to help your search would be honorable and what he should do!!

good luck, this must be hard for you, if you feel like talking to other adoptees and need some support try www.adultadoptees.org i know you're not an adult, but theres some great people there.

Answer 5

If you were legally adopted then your birth parents will not be involved in this at all. They gave up all rights before the adoption was final. Is this aunt from your birth family or from your adopted family?  I don't understand why it should take so long for a custody hearing to take place. You are 15 and do have some say as to where you live. Talk to your case worker.

Answer 6

I am sorry for your loss; honey.

hmm; oh honey this is hard!! my son is 15; he was also adopted at birth; and I think of him every day. But; I can tell you that I have no rights at all to him; I just tried to get to him medical information and since he was adopted at birth; have had no luck.  I would ask  your aunt; to ask for emergency custody.

If you want to have your aunt e-mail me; at [e-mail]; and I will see if I can get someone to help her.

And know I am sending you lots, and lots of hugs!

Kell