My son's ex-girlfriend wants her daughter to live with my son in Maryland while she goes to another state to stay with family. This could be a just for the school year arrangement or it could end up being permanent. I don't think either one of them has money for an attorney. The child has only known my son as her daddy, but I don't think he legally can keep her. The biological father (who lives in yet another state) does not want the child, but she might end up going there from a legal standpoint. This is going to be tremendously traumatic for this child and my son... not to mention me if we don't find some sane and legal way to handle this situation. What avenues do we have available to us to keep this child in a stable home in our state with the person she loves as daddy?

You son has no legal status with this child, since he has not adopted the child when he was with her ( and many places would required married)

She would have to be willing to, and the bio father would have to be willing to allow your son to adopt the child with both bio parents giving up their custody. You will need an attorney for this if both would even agree.

Have you checked into him becoming her legal guardian? No one signs rights away (permanantly), no adoption or anything like that...

Good friends of our just set this up for their daughter so she could stay with good friends and complete her senior year of high school here. The husband was transferred out of state for work.

I'm sorry I don't have details. I don't know if the age of the child has bearing, or anything. Just a possible option I thought of.

Have you checked into him becoming her legal guardian? No one signs rights away (permanantly), no adoption or anything like that.......

Good friends of our just set this up for their daughter so she could stay with good friends and complete her senior year of high school here. The husband was transferred out of state for work.
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Sorry, rmommy, have to spread it around; good advice here: your state should have a proceeding for guardianship of the person and/or property. If the mother has custody, she and your son may be able to get this through the court with the assistance of a competent lawyer. It takes some time and money, but look at it for what it is: an investment in love for a child. Is mama willing to pay your son child support?