[ZairasMom]

I have had my bestfriends daughter since she was 3 weeks old and now she's almost three an her biological mother does not support her at all I am the only mother she knows and she does not know who the biological father is... so I was wondering is this considered abandonment... she also has 2 other childern that she does not have... but she receives benefits for her... I have been trying to open a foodstamp case for her but I can't because she has her on her case... I am over her medicade, I take her to all her doctors visites, I am over her wic and she only know me as her mother... I want to know what steps I would take to get custody of her

[idreu2go4it]

Report to DSHS that your best friends daughter is getting benefits for children that she doesn't even care for. That is illegal of her to do. Biologically anything doesn't matter. What matters is who is in custody of and who takes care of the child. You could go to court and file a petition to get custody of this child based on whatever circumstances brought you into possession of the child to begin with; say, if she is an unfit parent and why. Talk to the court in your area. I'm sure they have an advisor in family law that you could talk to for free. As for food stamps, just report her and then file your claim again.