[ARobbins24]

I live in WA state. My fiancé and I have been in a child's life since the day she was born. However she was born into a terrible situation that seems to just be getting worse. Her parents (never married) broke up and within a few months she and her mom were living in our spare bedroom as renters.
The mother has always been very negligent about changing her, feeding her, housekeeping, clothing, and seems like she is only ever screaming at her when she sees her. All of this absolutely breaks my heart. He and I are constantly picking up the slack on these basic needs departments.
As of late she has been taking off for days at a time without a word. She'll leave in the middle of the night with a bogus reason and not return for anywhere between 2 hours and 37 hours usually more like 15-17hours. With a lame story when she finally surfaces.
We also believe she is doing drugs of various types (specifics I do not know) since she has confided in my fiancé more than me. Last month we calculated that we she was in our care for appr 704 hours.
We are sick of this! Does anyone know how I can start the process to obtain custody of her. We would just like to make her ours' permanantly (she practically is anyway).
I cannot walk away from this situation, not knowing this little girls' daily welfare is unacceptable at this point.

The little girls dad is around but is not at all active in her life, no support, little to no visitation, drug use as well.

[Synnen]

Contact a lawyer.

Since you're not biologically related, it may be tough to get permanent custody without having a lawyer on your side.

You will probably have to get Child Protective Services involved as well, but that should be okay, since you're trying to protect the child.

Definitely contact the lawyer first, though.

[Sand Daddy]

I agree with Synnen to a point.

If this mom is taking off for days on end, it's called child abandonment. The only time child services should be called is if the child is in a situation of potentially devastating results. If there is no immediate danger to the child, don't call child services, getting the child back will be very difficult as you are not family.

If there are no relatives or parents to care for the child properly, I would get a lawyer and file with the courts for custody on grounds of abandonment.

[ScottGem]

The first thing will be checking with your local Family and children's services agency. However, they may decide to check the child away entirley and move it into the foster care system rather then let you foster the child. That's one reason a lawyer familiar with the system can help you wade through the red tape.

You first need to be declared guardians for the child. Then the parents will need to relinquish their rights. Then youcan apply to adopt.