Would they have any chance of adoption? or any other possiblities?

Question

My friend & his partner currently look after his 11year old niece (she has been living with them for the past 7months) due to some problems that happened in the family home (daughter accused her step-father of hitting her) and police would not allow her to go back to the “family” home.

My friend has recently applied for child benefit etc to claim the money that he is entitled to for looking after his niece, however after she returned the last time from visiting her mother she told my friend that her mother told her a “secret” (& she shouldn't tell anyone) - that she will be coming back to live with her mother in February!

Everything with my friends niece living at his house was agreed via social services and both her parents, so can her mother just say she's coming back now wihtout informing social services?

Also is there any possibility that they would be allowed to adopt her?

Answer 1

THIS IS A REALLY TOUCHY THING. I DO NOT THINK THAT THEY WOULD LET HER MOVE BACK IN WITH HER MOTHER. I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT YOUR FRIEND CAN TRY TO ADOPT. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED...HAVE YOUR FRIEND LOOK INTO IT AND SEE WHAT HE CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPER STEPS GET TAKEN.

Answer 2

Social Services is supposed to help the parent get the child back if possible, they will give her every chance to do that, even putting the child in limbo(foster care)for a long period. If the parents do not sign away their parental rights there is no way the child will be adopted.

Answer 3

if social services is involved there must be a case worker your friend is working with. Have them contact them and ask about it.  If its just a verbal agreement then the mom can take her anytime.

Answer 4

Unless the biological parents (both of them) consent to an adoption then the child cannot be adopted by anyone.

If social services says the mother can have her child back then it will be so - she cannot just pick up her daughter without social services consent.  The child can be fostered without ever being elligeable for adoption until she's 18 if the mother is never granted custody rights and never gives up her parental rights.

Answer 5

First, your friend needs to contact the girls social worker and let her know what is going on, those kind of promises need to be stopped.  Secondly, bio families make those kind of promises constantly in order to keep the childrens hopes up.  They don't realize that if it doesn't happen that the child will be the one that is heart broken.

Answer 6

If it was a "secret" and child services has not contacted your friend and his partner, they should be contacting social services.  Sounds as if the mother is going to do something stupid!!  

I think he should contact them ASAP....  She cannot come back and take her without their knowledge or consent.  

Tell him to contact them with this information.

Answer 7

For all you know, the mother may be divorcing the step-father.  The friend should talk to the mother and inform her that 'secrets' are not allowed.  What's up?

Also, the chances of being able to adopt is small to nothing unless the mother is in prison or a long time drug addict unless she voluntarily signs her over.