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Out of ideas
Guest
Trying to find out the best thing to do and what the differences are between guardianship, legal custody and adoption. My brother-in-law's girlfriend wants my husband and I to raise their son after she passes away. My brother-in-law has a drug (herione) and alcohol dependency and is homeless. Their son's birth certificate states "Father Unknown". The mother has hepatitis C and does not have much longer to live. She just asked me if we planned on adopting him. I really don't know what is entailed legally in each of those options. We want to do what is best for my nephew. Can we adopt him after the mother passes away without any problem from the father if he is not named on the birth certificate? What about health insurance? Would he be able to be insured on our family insurance if he was not adopted? Would he receive Social Security from the mom's passing? Just looking for some general answers. I realize that the father could prove paternity, but am doubtful that he would ever do so. We all currently live in Illinois.
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