[s_a2008]

Hello all,
I will get straight to the facts:

* My husband (31) and I (27) are seeking guardianship of my little sisters, 12 & 13
* Husband is Active Duty Army and we reside in Mississippi
* My mother is not contesting, in fact WANTS us to have guardianship to improve quality of life and education
* Mom and little sisters live in California
* Little sisters father abandoned them in 1999. Whereabouts unknown. No other family members known.
* Mom is on welfare and also receiving disability as she is not fit to work
* Mom is technically still married to their father/Can not afford to divorce

My questions are:
What is the easiest way to gain guardianship?
Can a notarized letter give us the rights to sign the girls up for school and provide with medical&dental?
If mom is receiving welfare, is she automatically the sole custodian of my sisters?
Can I do this all without a lawyer?

Thanks in advance for any information provided.
God Bless.

[liz28]

First, its always best to contact your local county for their procedures.

Second, if even your mom is willing to give you guardianship, she's still married to the father and you'll need both of the parents consent.

Your mother can still get public assistance, just not for your sibling once you are granted guardianship. If she does, she'll be committing fraud and charges can be brought again her because she must report to her center that her kids no longer reside once guardianshio is rewarded to you.

Yes, it's best that you've a lawyer and one that specialize in family laws.

I think it's great that you're willing to take full responsibility for your sisters. Do your sisters currently reside with you.

[s_a2008]

Thanks for answering my questions Liz.
My sisters do not live with me now. We are trying to gain guardianship by the beginning of the next school year. We have a year or so but we would like to get the ball rolling.
We are willing to take them in because we want to give them a chance... California is a nice place to visit but if you are low income, you quickly become a statistic.

If we can not locate their father, whom we haven't heard from in 9 years, is there an option to put in an ad in the paper like divorces require you to?

Thanks =)

[liz28]

Does your mother knows any of his relatives that might be able to assistance in his whereabouts? My sister placed an ad in the local newspaper to help locate her husband, so it might help. I'll see what other ways that might help in locating him.

[JudyKayTee]

Thanks for answering my questions Liz.
My sisters do not live with me now. We are trying to gain guardianship by the beginning of the next school year. We have a year or so but we would like to get the ball rolling.
We are willing to take them in because we want to give them a chance... california is a nice place to visit but if you are low income, you quickly become a statistic.

If we can not locate their father, whom we haven't heard from in 9 years, is there an option to put in an ad in the paper like divorces require you to?

Thanks =)

If you are thinking of serving him notice through publication - and not just locating him - you pretty much need an Attorney. There are strict guidelines concerning wording as well as the minimum circulation of the published notice.

It would be less expensive to hire a Licensed Private Investigator to find him and then serve him with the appropriate legal notice.

[s_a2008]

Thank you for your answers... I also need to know that if I take this to court, is there a possibility that they may take the girls from my mom?

[JudyKayTee]

Thank you for your answers... I also need to know that if I take this to court, is there a possibility that they may take the girls from my mom?

Certainly, if she is neglectful or puts them in danger and there is proof.