Legal Question in Family Law in Puerto Rico
Legal documentation to care for a minor relative
My 5 yr old 2nd cousin lives in Puerto Rico with her mother. At this time her mother is not working. The father is unknown. Our grandparents are deceased. I live in Maryland and am financially stable. Her mother, my cousin, has asked me to assume responsibility for her daughter until she is able to do so. That may take 6 months or longer. I understand that in order to enroll my 2nd cousin in school here in the United States and to ensure her medical and dental care I would need to obtain legal documentation giving me the right to make decisions on her behalf. If so how do I go about obtaining that?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Legal documentation to care for a minor relative
The first step you must take is determine what are the requirements in Maryland's education department in order to enroll the child in school. Legal guardianship may entitle you to take many decisions on behalf of the child but not necessarily all of the decisions necessary to take these decisions. If the child was born in Puerto Rico you may also need to acquire the child's parens patria in order to be able to make decisions regarding the child's health and economic decisions regarding the child. Counsel Stiehm's advice to consult a family lawyer is right on point.
Re: Legal documentation to care for a minor relative
If the child is going to live with you in Maryland, it would be prudent, to say the least, to get yourself appointed as the child's guardian. You need to consult a family law lawyer who will explain all the reasons this is the best course of action, under the circumstances you have outlined above. Good luck.
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