I am a grandparent who's granddaughter is living with her she is 2, my daughter her mother died 3 weeks after she was born. Dad has been totally irresponsible, can't keep a job for over three months, but this is not because of losing my daughter he has always been like this. He was living near us for awhile and almost lost her to DSHS so he fled and lied and went to Texas, she came up here for a visit over eight months and is still here, he has been collecting social security for her and using it to live yet he has not had her. Social Security is investigating and he owes over 12, 000 back and so we want to know if we can use child abandonment laws to keep her with us as it looks like he is going to jail for awhile, we thought this might be better than filing for custody. Just want what is best for this special little girl.

I think that you could do that. I would contact DSHS about this. Or see if he will sign over his parental rights leaving the door open for you to adopt her. I don't think obtaining custody of her will be a problem for you though. Good luck, and best wishes.