I have had my great- nephew for 5 years, his mother has come and taken him back 3 times and within 5 days has called me and said I cannot handle him you have to come back and get him, I don't have money for a lawyer but we had a paper notarized last time signing over all of her rights, we live in s.c. and she has taken him again, what would I have to do in order to get my child back and not let her take him again?

The paper is worthless because a parent can't just sign their rights away. You need toi go to court to either get legal custody or adopt the child. You don't need a lawyer to do this, but it would help.

Hi: I did my OWN guardianship for my granddaughter and was successful. Your daughter is a selfish, uncaring and unloving person and obviously only a "BIRTH" mom. Becoming a parent is more than an in and out person.

FIRST, you have lots of local government/court LEGAL AID offices. Call them and they will give you information on for free legal guidelines etc. CALL CPS (Child Protection Services) whenever you are left with the child (abandonment) to make a report.

Your courts offices have "FREE" legal libraries for forms etc. You have to be ready and patient - if you have a computer, all "guardianship" online forms can be completed "online" - print and file in court. If you are low income, no charge to you to file. Gather as much information and document everything from the dates she abandoned the child, expenses you have incurred, school information (child should be in at least pre-school?). You are fighting for the child's 'rights as an American with Constitutional right to be safe - which include a stress free environment, stability, consistence, 24/8 hugs and kisses and love - not this "birth" mother. What most parents fail to recognize, EMOTIONAL ABUSE is a life long curse and is more damaging than physical abuse. The hurt stops - emotions never every do and the early you provide a nurturing home, the better for the child.

Hope this helps.

I am continuing to fight for my granddaughter to ensure she grows up as a productive human being and can take care of herself. Your fight is only beginning, NEVER EVER GIVE UP - EVER. It isn't about us or this birth mother creature..

After you go to the court and file for legal guardianship or to adopt the child you have been raising for 5 years how long would it take for me to get the child back

Depends whether she fights it or is willing to let him go.

Depends whether she fights it or is willing to let him go.

Yeah but I have so much on her that she will lose her other kids

So you are willing to take one but not the others?

So you are willing to take one but not the others?

No the other 4 have their dad, mine doesn't have a father and that is why they fight because the step dad does not like the 12 year old because of his disability he calls him retarded and she takes up fir the father, I don't think she deserves any of them but the dad will get the others

For you to get the best help from the experts, you are going to need to give a complete and total background to your story. Bits and pieces here and there only cause confusion.

Start from the beginning and tell us the whole story.

The beginning
6 years ago my niece put her 7 year old child in marshall pickens, you could only go get him on saturdays and sundays from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm well she met this new man in her life and so I started going and getting christian and I would take him to wherever she was at then she became pregnant and christian was just pushed back farther when it came time to stsrt school she let me keep him through the week so he did not have to change schools well then she would not even see him on weekends so I got him in counseling and he started doing good so I asked her to give me temporary custody and we had it notarized his mother gets a s.s.I. check monthly so I had him tested and so he started receiving a small check as well the man became the step dad and does not like christian so whenever they would start argueing I would go get him and bring him to my house then she only let him come and spend one time maybe the whole month( if he was lucky) then when they would need extra money or they did not like the way I was doing something she would come and take him out of my house but only for 3 or 4 days they have never had a stable home, clean house, they have lived with friends and family members all of this time, well since christian has been with me I have had him a stable home, clean house, clean clothes, he has accomplished a wall of awards that he has earned I have his teachers doctors counselors all backing me but now she is wanting her husband to leave and she wants to start seeing her ex brother in law whom is not working so she needs christians money ( my opinion) when he wpuld call her on fridays and ask her can he come and spend the night if he was lucky and said yes within 3 hours I would have to go get him because she would call and say he is showing out or being mean to one of the other children she has 4 others but they belong to the stepdad so this time she came and got him she has done this like 4 times in 5 years and christian thinks in his little mind that he is getting what he always wanted attention from his mother, but he gets up gets on his bicycle and she is OK and has no clue where ge is at well I need help or advice as to how I can get my baby back and quick every minute just breaks my heart