My husband and I have just been asked the hardest question of our marriage. His brother and ex-wife neither want to take care of their 15yr old son. And want us to take custody of him. What is the first action should be take? We live in MD and we don't know how to go about this.

Is he a problemed child ? Emotional problems, legal problems ?

You will need to arrange counseling for him as soon as he is there, he will feel unwanted, neglected and more.

Are they going to pay for the legal fees for guardianship at least

It has been a battle for years. He has ADHD and neither of them want to pay for his medicine for him to take. And since his parents divorce his father has remarried and his new wife makes the boys life a living hell and we told the father before he sent the boy to live with his mother that we would take custody of him. For so dumb reason the father refused and now the mother don't want him either. The child acts fine and loves being with my family and me. We would get him counseling and everything for him as soon as we can get the legal stuff out of the way and get him on our insurance. But the father don't want us to sue for child support?

I would have the mother start the paper work if he's living with her now. Each parent has to find out what they need to sign according to the laws of their state, not you. (Dad needs a good kick in the pants about the support stuff, and he should have course send you SOMETHING every month, good grief, he's not even paying for food. Don't be too quick to cover all expenses.) Then when it's all legal there, you could start with the school he'll be attending. That might or might not be all you have to do.

I would go a different route. I would apply for guardianship then go after the parents for child support. In either case, you start by consulting a Family Law attorney to prepare the paperwork and represent you in court.

I would have the mother start the paper work if he's living with her now. Each parent has to find out what they need to sign according to the laws of their state, not you. (Dad needs a good kick in the pants about the support stuff, and he should of course send you SOMETHING every month, good grief, he's not even paying for food. Don't be too quick to cover all expenses.) Then when it's all legal there, you could start with the school he'll be attending. That might or might not be all you have to do.


That definitely is not all that they have to do - most definitely.

What do you mean by "... start with the school he'll be attending"?

You are right, JudyKayTee. I was thinking of a situation in my family that was different, and did involve the move before it was all final.