unhappysis
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania
Hi this is my first time posting. I'm not really sure how to help my sister, so advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
I recently came back into contact with my younger half sister(22). I haven't seen her since 4 years ago when she was 18 and became pregnant. At the time, her step mother had told me that she wanted my sister's child, to raise as her own. As a precaution, I sent my sister a letter telling her to move out with her child. I learned just recently that she never received the letter. Her step mother told her that her family was ashamed of her and wanted nothing to do with her. One day, the step mother locked my sister out of the house, and told her she wasn't welcome anymore. My poor sister was homeless, at 18, with no money and no one to turn to. She was taken in by a friend, and eventually worked her way back to normal life. She attempted to get her daughter back. The step mother threatened to call the cops saying that my sister would go to jail for child abandonment. Being uneducated in these things, my sister believed her and ran.
Now 4 years later, she has an income, an apartment and a new life. She wants her daughter back. What are her rights? Does she have a case? I just found my sister, and was horrified to learn of her story. I am going to help her as much as I can because I feel strongly that she was unjustly treated by these people, and they kidnapped her daughter. It's difficult, because even though my sister is 22 and working, she still isn't wealthy enough to afford a good strong lawyer. I wanted to know if this is worth pursuing for her.
Any advice? I know it's not your typical custody case... but in seeing my sister's tears, I know she wants her child back.
Thanks,
concerned for my sister...
Hi this is my first time posting. I'm not really sure how to help my sister, so advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
I recently came back into contact with my younger half sister(22). I haven't seen her since 4 years ago when she was 18 and became pregnant. At the time, her step mother had told me that she wanted my sister's child, to raise as her own. As a precaution, I sent my sister a letter telling her to move out with her child. I learned just recently that she never received the letter. Her step mother told her that her family was ashamed of her and wanted nothing to do with her. One day, the step mother locked my sister out of the house, and told her she wasn't welcome anymore. My poor sister was homeless, at 18, with no money and no one to turn to. She was taken in by a friend, and eventually worked her way back to normal life. She attempted to get her daughter back. The step mother threatened to call the cops saying that my sister would go to jail for child abandonment. Being uneducated in these things, my sister believed her and ran.
Now 4 years later, she has an income, an apartment and a new life. She wants her daughter back. What are her rights? Does she have a case? I just found my sister, and was horrified to learn of her story. I am going to help her as much as I can because I feel strongly that she was unjustly treated by these people, and they kidnapped her daughter. It's difficult, because even though my sister is 22 and working, she still isn't wealthy enough to afford a good strong lawyer. I wanted to know if this is worth pursuing for her.
Any advice? I know it's not your typical custody case... but in seeing my sister's tears, I know she wants her child back.
Thanks,
concerned for my sister...