Legal Question in Family Law in Illinois

You can do one of 2 things. One option is to seek guardianship of your grandaughter. That would allow you to enroll her in school. But its easier to vacate a guardianship, as the guardianship court always trys to place children back with their biological parents. I know that you mention that you'll be in charge "until your daughter gets back on her feet," but what if that takes 5 years? Maybe circumstances will change, and you won't want to give her back. You don't say what your daughter needs to do to get back on her feet, but if she's got a drug problem or has an abusive boyfriend, you might was to consider other options.

If I were you, I would take custody of her. That way, the ball will be in court, as to whether or not you want to agree to give your grandaughter back. At least the choice will be yours then. The custody judge will do what he/she belives is in the child's best interest, and if she's established in Illinois for a long time, has friends here, does well in school, etc., and you don't want to give her back, its likely that she'll stay here.

You don't mention the biological father.......He'll need notice of the proceedings. They are fairly simple though so long as you have an agreement between you and your daughter.

Kim Anderson, Anderson & Boback, www.illinoislawforyou.com, 312-715-0870