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    dslater's Avatar
    dslater Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jul 10, 2013, 07:06 PM
    Who to contact for child abandonment
    I live in Illinois... I have had my nephew for 9 weeks now... how long do I have to wait to get legal rights to my nephew. What do I do to get rights?
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,490, Reputation: 2853
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    #2

    Jul 10, 2013, 07:12 PM
    You don't have legal rights to anyone else's child unless you are granted legal custody... legal guardianship... or you adopt them. You have to make applications for any of those. None come automatically.
    N0help4u's Avatar
    N0help4u Posts: 19,823, Reputation: 2035
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    #3

    Jul 10, 2013, 07:13 PM
    Its not called child abandonment. You need to go to Children's services and they will tell you step by step the process.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
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    #4

    Jul 10, 2013, 07:13 PM
    More details. Why do you have the child? What happened to the parents? How old is the child? Have you tried to contact the parents?
    dslater's Avatar
    dslater Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Jul 10, 2013, 07:27 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by ScottGem View Post
    More details. Why do you have the child? What happened to the parents? How old is the child? Have you tried to contact the parents?
    DCFS came in and told the parents either you place the children or we will place them, DCFS states that it was environmental neglect and neglect for the children. The child is 5months old. They provide nothing for the child. I want some kind of leg to stand on!
    dslater's Avatar
    dslater Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Jul 10, 2013, 07:29 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by dslater View Post
    DCFS came in and told the parents either you place the children or we will place them, DCFS states that it was environmental neglect and neglect for the children. The child is 5months old. They provide nothing for the child. I want some kind of leg to stand on!
    Not even checking on the childs' well being is not being abandonment?
    N0help4u's Avatar
    N0help4u Posts: 19,823, Reputation: 2035
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    #7

    Jul 10, 2013, 08:14 PM
    No by legal terms they have to distinguish between someone leaving a kid on the street corner or a dumpster or somewhere where there is no adult. So as long as the child was left with a supervising adult it is not considered abandonment. Legally they did what DCFS told them to but they didn't go about it the right way. Now you need to go to DCFS and tell them the situation and they will tell you what steps to take.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
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    #8

    Jul 11, 2013, 03:12 AM
    Abandonment is a very misunderstood term in family law. There is no charge of abandonment. However, it may be used as grounds for some other action, like custody or divorce. But, 9 weeks is not enough to use abandonment as grounds for anything.

    Do you have anything in writing from DCFS giving you legal responsibility for the child? If they placed the child with you, you should have some documentation. Otherwise you have no legal right to authorize medical care. So the first thing I would do is make sure you have some legal guardianship. Talk to the caseworker about this.

    What is your ultimate goal? Do you want to adopt the child and do you want to help your relatives get back to where they can care for the child?
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