What will my husband and I have to do to gain legal guardianship of a 9 year old boy that my husband was left with to take care of him for 5 years now on top of his three biological sons all from the same mother. The 9 year old has a different father and we have no idea where he is or his name and mother isn't to be found herself. Last we knew of her she was still doing cocaine and is very unstable and unfit to raise a child that she doesn't even want. My husband and I have been together for 2 years now and I have helped this boy gain better grades in school and my husband and I have been providing for all of them ourselves. We are trying to get a birth certificate and social security card for the 9 year old but can't because we don't have legal guardianship paperwork from the courts but he is under our foodstamp paperwork and my husband has been claiming him on his taxes. What needs to be done to get his legal paperwork aka birth certificate and social security card? Mother would not give it to my husband.

Get an attorney, they will contact Children and family services and you will apply for temp guardianship.

And if the mother is not to be found, how is "not giving" you the social secrity card and Birth certificate