What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? I am in Iowa. Jurisdiction is either in Wyoming or Colorado.
This is one convoluted story, so please bear with me.
Father and mother (my daughter) were never married. Both names are on the Iowa birth certificate.
Mom and dad lived together for app. 6 months after baby was born. Dad moved out.
Dad has a long criminal history, and has been imprisoned. Dad married a woman with the same type of history
with child abuse to the point that she has had her children taken away.
Last year an Iowa investigation of child abuse and neglect occurred because grandson's posterior and back were covered
with bruises and scratches. Both the father, stepmother, and my daughter were investigated because no one admitted
to the abuse. Neglect charges stemmed because all 3 adults are filthy housekeepers.
During the investigation the father and stepmother moved to Colorado. My daughter and grandson moved to Wyoming.
The daughter and grandson have come back to Iowa for visits. My husband and I had the grandson for a visit during the month of June.
We returned the grandson to mom in Wyoming. A couple of weeks later, she brought the grandson to Colorado for what was supposed to be
a two week visit with his father and stepmother.
Human services in Colorado told her she could just go get him.
When mom went to retrieve the son, the father refused to give him back, and the stepmother called the police stating the mother was trespassing.
The police would not get involved because it was a domestic dispute.
Mom gets summoned to court in Colorado because dad filed for custody. Court throws it out because they have no jurisdiction because grandson has not
been living in Colorado for 6 months.
Mom attempts to get a lawyer in Wyoming, but is told Wyoming has no jurisdiction because grandson is in Colorado.
Legal Aid will not help mom because the kid is in Colorado.
Human services has been contacted by us (grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncle here in Iowa) because we honest and truly fear for the safety of our grandson.
We have been told an investigation has begun, but have not been told details. We would like to gain guardianship of our grandson.
We are at our wits end here, it seems like we are in a catch-22 situation.
Any advice, please?
Thanks!
Cloverean
This is one convoluted story, so please bear with me.
Father and mother (my daughter) were never married. Both names are on the Iowa birth certificate.
Mom and dad lived together for app. 6 months after baby was born. Dad moved out.
Dad has a long criminal history, and has been imprisoned. Dad married a woman with the same type of history
with child abuse to the point that she has had her children taken away.
Last year an Iowa investigation of child abuse and neglect occurred because grandson's posterior and back were covered
with bruises and scratches. Both the father, stepmother, and my daughter were investigated because no one admitted
to the abuse. Neglect charges stemmed because all 3 adults are filthy housekeepers.
During the investigation the father and stepmother moved to Colorado. My daughter and grandson moved to Wyoming.
The daughter and grandson have come back to Iowa for visits. My husband and I had the grandson for a visit during the month of June.
We returned the grandson to mom in Wyoming. A couple of weeks later, she brought the grandson to Colorado for what was supposed to be
a two week visit with his father and stepmother.
Human services in Colorado told her she could just go get him.
When mom went to retrieve the son, the father refused to give him back, and the stepmother called the police stating the mother was trespassing.
The police would not get involved because it was a domestic dispute.
Mom gets summoned to court in Colorado because dad filed for custody. Court throws it out because they have no jurisdiction because grandson has not
been living in Colorado for 6 months.
Mom attempts to get a lawyer in Wyoming, but is told Wyoming has no jurisdiction because grandson is in Colorado.
Legal Aid will not help mom because the kid is in Colorado.
Human services has been contacted by us (grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncle here in Iowa) because we honest and truly fear for the safety of our grandson.
We have been told an investigation has begun, but have not been told details. We would like to gain guardianship of our grandson.
We are at our wits end here, it seems like we are in a catch-22 situation.
Any advice, please?
Thanks!
Cloverean