Change of Custody

I live in Florida. I am in the process of gaining custody of my granddaughter. We have filed papers made out by a paralegal. The problem arose when I spoke to the judge's clerk. She asked if we knew the custody rights for ourselves and my daughter. We don't. We thought the change in custody papers we filled out and filed, enabled us to change custody from our daughter ( no father listed on birth certificate) to ourselves. This custody is uncontested by my daughter. Our granddaughter has lived with us from day one. My daughter moved out of our house when her daughter was 3 weeks old. We have had power of attorney for medical services since her birth. My daughter has not or will not accept responsibility for her child. In the first year she saw or visited her 6 times. Her relinguishment of her rights as parent was her idea. We want to know what other forms we need to fill out and file and whether visitation has to be listed with the court. We have never denied our daughter any access to her child. Please,if anyone has knowledge of how we can expedite this I would appreciate it. I can't afford lengthy legal costs. And the final result will be that we adopt our grandchild.
Thanks, Tasha01

Originally posted by tasha01
I live in Florida. I am in the process of gaining custody of my granddaughter. We have filed papers made out by a paralegal. The problem arose when I spoke to the judge's clerk. She asked if we knew the custody rights for ourselves and my daughter. We don't. We thought the change in custody papers we filled out and filed, enabled us to change custody from our daughter ( no father listed on birth certificate) to ourselves. This custody is uncontested by my daughter. Our granddaughter has lived with us from day one. My daughter moved out of our house when her daughter was 3 weeks old. We have had power of attorney for medical services since her birth. My daughter has not or will not accept responsibility for her child. In the first year she saw or visited her 6 times. Her relinguishment of her rights as parent was her idea. We want to know what other forms we need to fill out and file and whether visitation has to be listed with the court. We have never denied our daughter any access to her child. Please,if anyone has knowledge of how we can expedite this I would appreciate it. I can't afford lengthy legal costs. And the final result will be that we adopt our grandchild.
Thanks, Tasha01

Ok, here is a few links for you to go to. You will need to read these and take notes of the statutes regarding child custody so that you can represent yourselves in the courtroom.
Regarding child custody:

[url]http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0061/SEC13.HTM&Title=->2000->Ch0061->Section%2013[/url]

Some definitions:
[url]http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0061/SEC1306.HTM&Title=->2000->Ch0061->Section%201306[/url]



Main FL Statutes link with regards to child custody/support:

[url]http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0061/titl0061.htm&StatuteYear=2000&Title=%2D%3E2000%2D%3EChapter%2061[/url]