[rebel30]

I have had my friends baby since he was 2 months old . She was arrested for meth and called me to come pick him up she told me to bring papers with me so she could sign him over to me so I did.when I went and got the baby she told me he hasn't eaten in a couple of days . The baby was sick and I took him to the Dr. the Dr. said he was very malnourished, dehyderated,and was failur to thrive he was 2 months old and only weighed 8# 3oz. I went and got A Lawyer and went before the judge and he granted me temporary guardianship and custody. I notified the father and his response was he didn't have time for a baby. The baby's family knew I had him and they only came to see him once since iv'e had him. Now six months later the mother and the father are wanting the baby back but they have none helped my husband and I provide anything for this baby.What I want to know is when and do we have grounds for abandonment and if so how do we go about trying to adopt this baby, because we are his parents and we are all he knows. Please help me understand what I can do to keep this baby..

[justcurious55]

Adoption can be a long process. At this point, I would look into making that guardianship permanent if I were you, at least to buy you some more time. Whether an adoption or guardianship is granted will be entirely up to the courts. I'm a little surprised cps never got involved when the mother was arrested. I guess if she wants the baby back now she's no longer in jail for meth? Tell us more about the parents. If the court views them as unfit you're more likely to keep custody of the baby. But if the parents are healthy and stable now there's no reason they shouldn't have custody of their child back, in the eyes of the law at least.

[Synnen]

You want to keep this baby, you NEED to get a lawyer. Be willing to mortgage your house for the fees, because you need a GOOD lawyer.

While you have a lot on your side, the birthmother's side of it is going to be that she gave you TEMPORARY guardianship while she got her act together.

If she can show a court she's clean and has the means to provide for the baby, she will probably get him back if you do not have a good lawyer.

[startover22]

Synnen said it right. She gave you temporary custody. If you decide to fight this, you will need a lawyer. If she "woke" up and got her stuff together, you may not have a case at all.

[Fr_Chuck]

It is going to be a hard battle, esp if she is clean and can show she can support the child.

6 months is very little time and the mother even after a much longer time if they show they have kicked the drugs often come back after their chidren. She gave you temp custody that actuay shows she was concerned for her child and wanted someone to take care of the child. So you are going to need a very very good attorney and as noted may have to work on guardianship ( not temp) with adoption some years down the road.