Legal Question in Family Law in Missouri
A friend of mine signed over temporary guardianship of her 5 week old son. I got super attached to him quickly so we have talked about joint custody so that when she starts keeping him again ( he has been living with me for the past few weeks) I will still get rights to him. She has seen him twice in the past few weeks but didn't hardly interact with him when she did see him. How do we go about joint custody? If that's not possible how do we go about something where it's legal that I am his other parent? I am a woman. His father is not on the birth certificate and is not involved in his life.
1 Answer from Attorneys
If the mother is not providing support or interacting with the child, you may be able to apply to the probate court of your county to be named the Guardian of the child. (You may be passed over for a blood relative that offers to serve). Other than that, there is little you can do to "get rights to the child" without the mother's consent. If you are unmarried, you cannot adopt the child without the Court terminating the parental rights of both parents. In that case too, you could be passed over for a blood relative.
Unless there is a claim by the father, (or some other blood relative) the mother can allow the child to live or visit with you for as long as she wants. But, there seems to be nothing you can do to force her to allow you to see him again.
Good luck
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