ilokguardian
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois (and Oklahoma)
We live with the child in Illinois, everyone else mentioned lives in Oklahoma.
My husband & I have been legal guardians of my 3 year old step-nephew for 14 months (since he was 23 months old). Before that, he lived with his grandparents or mom & grandparents for most of his life, although he did live with both his mom & dad for about 3 or 4 months total (not consecutive). He has never been in the child welfare system, although grandma was starting to get the courts involved before his mom voluntarily signed over guardianship to her, and then later moved the guardianship to us.
His father (who is in prison, 2 years into serving multiple 10 year sentences) was given official notice about the guardianship, and never responded. He does, however, have our address and phone number. He called once, 13 months ago. He spoke to his son for about 2 minutes, then spoke to me for about 2 minutes. I answered his questions and thanked him for calling. We have not heard anything from him since.
My dad & step-mom (child's grandparents) want us to work to have the father's parental rights terminated. I certainly think it would be in the child's best interest to make sure his father is never able to have custody of him. (Father has a history of violence, drug use & sale, and abused the child's mother. Additionally, the child has extensive cerebral palsy which means it requires extra effort & responsibility to properly care for him.)
However, is it possible for us, as legal guardians, to initiate termination of the father's parental rights? If it is possible, is there any reason it would be a bad idea?
We live with the child in Illinois, everyone else mentioned lives in Oklahoma.
My husband & I have been legal guardians of my 3 year old step-nephew for 14 months (since he was 23 months old). Before that, he lived with his grandparents or mom & grandparents for most of his life, although he did live with both his mom & dad for about 3 or 4 months total (not consecutive). He has never been in the child welfare system, although grandma was starting to get the courts involved before his mom voluntarily signed over guardianship to her, and then later moved the guardianship to us.
His father (who is in prison, 2 years into serving multiple 10 year sentences) was given official notice about the guardianship, and never responded. He does, however, have our address and phone number. He called once, 13 months ago. He spoke to his son for about 2 minutes, then spoke to me for about 2 minutes. I answered his questions and thanked him for calling. We have not heard anything from him since.
My dad & step-mom (child's grandparents) want us to work to have the father's parental rights terminated. I certainly think it would be in the child's best interest to make sure his father is never able to have custody of him. (Father has a history of violence, drug use & sale, and abused the child's mother. Additionally, the child has extensive cerebral palsy which means it requires extra effort & responsibility to properly care for him.)
However, is it possible for us, as legal guardians, to initiate termination of the father's parental rights? If it is possible, is there any reason it would be a bad idea?