Legal Question in Family Law in Indiana
My 47 year old sister is the mother of a developmentally disabled son and my god child who has just turned 20. He has suffered from epilepsy and has been heavily medicated since he was 2, including emergency brain surgery at 7. She is benignly neglectful of him. But he -- Taylor -- and I are very close. Even though I live over 370 miles away, I go back to see him at least twice a year. My husband and I take him on trips that he likes and we use video footage and photos of them to put onto a DVD he can keep. I mail him things a couple times a month. If I want him to send me something back, I always include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. My sister is emotionally abusive and a bit "off". I have kept a low profile to avoid her abuse but now she is threatening to stop me from seeing Taylor "unless he comes back safe and happy" which he always does and which she cares little about. She is into hurting me. I fear she is on a secret campaign to discredit me (she lies) and prevent from seeing Taylor in the future, which would hurt him greatly. Can I start doing anything to protect myself? Documenting anything? Do I have any legal rights to him? She and her husband got guardianship rights when he turned 18. I would appreciate your advice as I feel horribly helpless.
1 Answer from Attorneys
You shouold consult with an attorney locally concerning whether you could displace the parents as guardian. You need to provide him or her with details abot your sister being "a bit off".