What is the name of your state? Texas
Are her parents drug addicts? No.
Hit her? No.
Emotional abuse her? Yes.
I have had my niece in my care since November 5, 2006. My half-sister(just turned 19 years old, Nov. 2nd) voluntarily let me get the child to keep in my care. My niece (3 at the time) was staying at our mother's house that weekend. My half-sister was having domestic issues and I offered to take the child into my care so she could get her life back together. She never signed any forms giving me temp. custody or power of attorney. At that time it was not known how long the child would be staying with my family and I.
My half-sister moved into an apartment by herself November 8, 2006. She was supposed to get the water and electricity turned on in her apartment. Get settled with her new job, etc. Her job history is not good at all. A month or less is about the longevity of each job. She called once a week, sometimes a week an a half. On November 18, she came here for her daughter's birthday party. She basically ignored the child and watched TV. She'd show her attention every now and then, but other than that, attention for a child she hadn't seen in 2 weeks was void. She cried when she left, but my niece showed no emotion and didn't seem to care.
My half sister had asked to have my niece come visit her for a weekend. When I asked if she had time off from work to be able to spend time with her, she said no, but her job was "mad" at her at the moment, because she refused to work when scheduled. She could still ask. I never heard back from her.
She has no means to care for the child. Money wise. Even when the child is in her constant care she ignores her, leaves her unattended, drops her off with "strangers" which she calls "friends,"etc.
She wanted to take her for a week during Christmas, but I told her no. Mainly because we had Christmas planned for here, which my sister was more than welcomed to join. Secondly, she wasn't even staying at her apartment because she never got the electricty turned on or the water. So she was staying with some guy shehad previously shacked up with. She didn't show up to the Christmas gathering, stating she couldn't afford it, and her car is wrecked, but still driveable, but wouldn't make the 2 hour trip.
She called Christmas night. Then I found out that she had never even tried to get the electricty turned on, and she had also quit her job about 3 weeks prior. Meaning she had only held the job for about 3 weeks. She was also still staying at some guy's house, who is 31 years old. My half sister is 19.
After not calling for almost 3 weeks. Since Christmas night, my half sister finally called January 12th. At this time I found out she's lost the apartment. I have no idea where she is staying. I told her I was going to need her to sign something that gives me the right to take my niece to the doctor if need be. She told our mother could take her. Our mother lives 2 hours away from me, and plus, my niece is currently in my care, not our mother's.
She informed me the "situation" wouldn't be last much longer anyhow. When I asked how she was going to get her daughter with no money, no home, a car that barely works, no car insurance, no health insurance, etc., etc., etc., She told me that was the wonderfult hing about "income tax." Thing is she barely worked last year, so even if she does get a return it won't be that much. She also has numerous warrants out for her arrest. Including two for hot checks.
There is tons more to explain, but I've already written a book just about. My husband and I are wanting to file for custody of my niece, but we cannot afford a lawyer, and we make "too much" money for legal aid. Right now she has every legal right to take her daughter. I've reported her to CPS, however, nothing has come of that, since my niece is currently in our care, and safe. The little girl suffers from emotional abuse, which CPS doesn't really care about. They want physical. My sister doesn't do drugs. She's just a highly immature, irresponsible, selfish 19 year old. In the two and half months I've had my niece, my sister who was suppsoed to be getting her life in order has made it worse than it was. How can I allow a 4 year old little girl to go to that?!
According to the Texas Family Code of Adoption Subchapter A. Grounds of Involuntary termination of parent-child relationship, I have 3 more months to wait until it's considered: C: Voluntary left the child alone or in possession of another with providing adequate support of the child and remained away for a period of at least 6 months.
Currently she's 161.001 (G) abandoned the child without identifying the child or furnishing means of identification, and the child's identity cannot be ascertained by the exercise of reasonalbe diligence.
My other question is, is there anyway I can start something without a lawyer?
Please help. If my half sister takes this child, she's damned for life.
Are her parents drug addicts? No.
Hit her? No.
Emotional abuse her? Yes.
I have had my niece in my care since November 5, 2006. My half-sister(just turned 19 years old, Nov. 2nd) voluntarily let me get the child to keep in my care. My niece (3 at the time) was staying at our mother's house that weekend. My half-sister was having domestic issues and I offered to take the child into my care so she could get her life back together. She never signed any forms giving me temp. custody or power of attorney. At that time it was not known how long the child would be staying with my family and I.
My half-sister moved into an apartment by herself November 8, 2006. She was supposed to get the water and electricity turned on in her apartment. Get settled with her new job, etc. Her job history is not good at all. A month or less is about the longevity of each job. She called once a week, sometimes a week an a half. On November 18, she came here for her daughter's birthday party. She basically ignored the child and watched TV. She'd show her attention every now and then, but other than that, attention for a child she hadn't seen in 2 weeks was void. She cried when she left, but my niece showed no emotion and didn't seem to care.
My half sister had asked to have my niece come visit her for a weekend. When I asked if she had time off from work to be able to spend time with her, she said no, but her job was "mad" at her at the moment, because she refused to work when scheduled. She could still ask. I never heard back from her.
She has no means to care for the child. Money wise. Even when the child is in her constant care she ignores her, leaves her unattended, drops her off with "strangers" which she calls "friends,"etc.
She wanted to take her for a week during Christmas, but I told her no. Mainly because we had Christmas planned for here, which my sister was more than welcomed to join. Secondly, she wasn't even staying at her apartment because she never got the electricty turned on or the water. So she was staying with some guy shehad previously shacked up with. She didn't show up to the Christmas gathering, stating she couldn't afford it, and her car is wrecked, but still driveable, but wouldn't make the 2 hour trip.
She called Christmas night. Then I found out that she had never even tried to get the electricty turned on, and she had also quit her job about 3 weeks prior. Meaning she had only held the job for about 3 weeks. She was also still staying at some guy's house, who is 31 years old. My half sister is 19.
After not calling for almost 3 weeks. Since Christmas night, my half sister finally called January 12th. At this time I found out she's lost the apartment. I have no idea where she is staying. I told her I was going to need her to sign something that gives me the right to take my niece to the doctor if need be. She told our mother could take her. Our mother lives 2 hours away from me, and plus, my niece is currently in my care, not our mother's.
She informed me the "situation" wouldn't be last much longer anyhow. When I asked how she was going to get her daughter with no money, no home, a car that barely works, no car insurance, no health insurance, etc., etc., etc., She told me that was the wonderfult hing about "income tax." Thing is she barely worked last year, so even if she does get a return it won't be that much. She also has numerous warrants out for her arrest. Including two for hot checks.
There is tons more to explain, but I've already written a book just about. My husband and I are wanting to file for custody of my niece, but we cannot afford a lawyer, and we make "too much" money for legal aid. Right now she has every legal right to take her daughter. I've reported her to CPS, however, nothing has come of that, since my niece is currently in our care, and safe. The little girl suffers from emotional abuse, which CPS doesn't really care about. They want physical. My sister doesn't do drugs. She's just a highly immature, irresponsible, selfish 19 year old. In the two and half months I've had my niece, my sister who was suppsoed to be getting her life in order has made it worse than it was. How can I allow a 4 year old little girl to go to that?!
According to the Texas Family Code of Adoption Subchapter A. Grounds of Involuntary termination of parent-child relationship, I have 3 more months to wait until it's considered: C: Voluntary left the child alone or in possession of another with providing adequate support of the child and remained away for a period of at least 6 months.
Currently she's 161.001 (G) abandoned the child without identifying the child or furnishing means of identification, and the child's identity cannot be ascertained by the exercise of reasonalbe diligence.
My other question is, is there anyway I can start something without a lawyer?
Please help. If my half sister takes this child, she's damned for life.
