Do I have the right to talk to my little brother who is in foster care?

[JettaGurl]

What is the name of your state? Michigan

I have a half little brother who is in foster care in Jackson Michigan (I live in California). He is 17 years old. His foster parents are trying to adopt him. I want to know if I have the legal right to talk to him. He has called me before, and I have called him. And up to about 2 months ago, we have talked about once or twice a month. Recently I have been calling to speak to him and his foster dad always say he isn't there, or he is out of town for a couple weeks. But I got a funny feeling about how he were saying it, like they (his foster parents) didn't want me calling him. So for 2 months I haven't talked to him, even though I have called. Yesterday was his birthday and I called him to wish him a Happy Birthday, and his foster mom picked up the phone. I asked to speak to him and he was like "ok hold on, who's calling?" I told them his sister and she said "you don't ever call him and now out of the blue you are trying to call him up. You don't deserve to speak to him. We are in the process of adopting him and we don't want you calling any more." My question is does she have the legal right to keep me from talking to him? Isn't that his decsion? I have his case worker's number and I have been trying to call her, but she isn't in her office. So until then I am just wondering if I am in the wrong. Thanks for any advice.

[gretchensanders]

untill the adoption is final,they have no legal rights to your brother,only the agency that has legal custody does.talk to the social worker,and tell him/her the foster parents are not allowing you to talk to your brother,which u have a right to do.but after the adoption,however,they can control who talk to him,and who cant.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by JettaGurl

What is the name of your state? Michigan

I have a half little brother who is in foster care in Jackson Michigan (I live in California). He is 17 years old. His foster parents are trying to adopt him. I want to know if I have the legal right to talk to him. He has called me before, and I have called him. And up to about 2 months ago, we have talked about once or twice a month. Recently I have been calling to speak to him and his foster dad always say he isn't there, or he is out of town for a couple weeks. But I got a funny feeling about how he were saying it, like they (his foster parents) didn't want me calling him. So for 2 months I haven't talked to him, even though I have called. Yesterday was his birthday and I called him to wish him a Happy Birthday, and his foster mom picked up the phone. I asked to speak to him and he was like "ok hold on, who's calling?" I told them his sister and she said "you don't ever call him and now out of the blue you are trying to call him up. You don't deserve to speak to him. We are in the process of adopting him and we don't want you calling any more." My question is does she have the legal right to keep me from talking to him? Isn't that his decsion? I have his case worker's number and I have been trying to call her, but she isn't in her office. So until then I am just wondering if I am in the wrong. Thanks for any advice.

This situation is kind of odd...and so is their reaction. Your brother is 17 which means that he will be 18 and legally old enough to make his own decisions in less than a year. Its a bit odd that they are adopting him (although it does happen) but even a bit odder that they are refusing to allow you to talk to him. Just keep trying, maybe you will get lucky and catch him at home when they aren't there.

[JettaGurl]

I think it is odd too. I think they don't want him to love them less or act like they aren't his family. He is the only child in their care, so maybe that has something to do with it. He has almost been adopted 2 other times, and he finds ways of getting into trouble so they don't adopt him and I think they might be scared of him doing that again. Thanks for the advice.