Legal Question in Family Law in California

My cousin fried his brain with drugs and was put in a ward for help. He met a young lady there and they got pregnant. The young lady is no better suited to be a mother than my three year old. My aunt was going to take the baby and raise her grandson, but didn't really want him as he would change her settled life style. My husband and I wanted the baby very badly. We kept getting strange information, and stories changed all the time. Last night I found out that the court date was moved to yesterday morning and no one told me. My baby cousin is now in foster care, and strangers are raising one of my own! How could I go about finding him, and maybe getting him without my aunts help,as she said I live too far out of her area so she didn't want me to have him, because she couldn't see him! Then she lost him in court!!!


Asked on 1/20/10, 8:16 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Geoffrey Sutliff Geoffrey A. Sutliff, Attorney at Law

it sounds like this case is in Juvenile Dependency Court. Have you contacted the social worker assigned to see if he/she will consider placing the child with you? Generally, the courts would prefer a family mamber over foster care.

Alot depends on the stage of the proceedings. If termination of parental rights has not been ordered, it may be possible to join the case and file a motion to be appointed temporary guardian. If the termination has already occurred, you will have to follow a similar path, except you would be seeking a permanent appointment.

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Answered on 1/25/10, 9:53 am


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