If I have been keeping my grandchild for several months while my son is in college do I have to give the child back to the mother if she has been hospitalized recently for wanting to kill herself. My grandchild was being kept by my son for months before he went to college. The mother would keep the child a couple of times a month. I don't know what to do if she asks me to bring him home. My son wants me to keep him. What legal course should my son be pursuing. He wants me to have temporary custody of my grandchild for the next couple of years. The child's mother and my son are not married. I am afraid for the safety of my grandchild. Please help.

Your son needs go to court to get full legal custody of the child and to have you established as legal guardian. He needs to petition the court to only allow supervised visitation for the mother or none at all.

With her history that shouldn't be a problem. But this NEEDS to be done through the courts. Otherwise she will be considered the mother and have equal rights to the child, while you have none.

You need to consult with an attorney ASAP to get this done.

ScottGem... Thanks so much for your help.