Legal Question in Family Law in California

Re: Child Custody

You did not state the age of your child. When the child is under three years of age you have 12 months in which to reunify. When the child is older the time is 18 month in which to reunify. An older child is often not adoptable. In those cases the child is placed in the custody of a guardian. If the child is with a guardian you may have a chance to regain custody. An adoption will not be set aside for you to have custody of your child.

Re: Child Custody

The paternal grandparents have a guardianship, or custody after a dependency proceeding? If a guardianship, you have to petition the court to terminate the guardianship based upon it no longer being necessary and you;ll have to prove your fitness as a parent. If in dependency court, I have limited knowledge of those proceedings and refer them out, but as I understand it, you may or not may be able to do that four years later if reunification services for you have already been terminated and your parental rights have been terminated.