I'm desperate!

[RachelsMercy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

Requesting advice pro-bono, I cannot afford an attorney, but I desperately need some advice on what my rights and options are. I lost custody of 2 of my children (girls) 13 years ago to a maternal aunt. All of the allegations were false, found to be false, yet childrens services interfered in anything I did to try and get them back and pushed for adoption from day 1. I was allowed to visit them for about 5 years, then my aunt cut off all contact because they wanted to be with me. I had another child 7 years ago and have custody of him. About 3 years ago my aunt contacted me and my son and I have had visitation with my daughters for the past 3 years. Recently paternity was established (encouraged by my aunt) for my oldest daughter, and as soon as her father tried to see her my aunt cut off all contact with him, bragged how SHE only had legal rights to kids, and then cut me out with no explanation. She abuses and neglects both of my daughters and has had more involvement with social workers then I ever did. I am trying to find out legally what can I do, can I even try to get custody of them back at this point? I am 32, and she is almost 70, her husband is almost 80 and has dementia. They are clearly not fit, and I am. I have a stable home, enough income to support them, I homeschool my son and am a great parent, I have numerous witnesses willing to speak on my behalf as well. If I cannot sue for custody, do I have any legal grounds to at least request partial custody or court ordered visitation? Did my aunt establish legal visitation by allowing them to see me and their brother for almost 3 years? What can I do?

 

[Ohiogal]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

Requesting advice pro-bono, I cannot afford an attorney, but I desperately need some advice on what my rights and options are. I lost custody of 2 of my children (girls) 13 years ago to a maternal aunt. All of the allegations were false, found to be false, yet childrens services interfered in anything I did to try and get them back and pushed for adoption from day 1. I was allowed to visit them for about 5 years, then my aunt cut off all contact because they wanted to be with me. I had another child 7 years ago and have custody of him. About 3 years ago my aunt contacted me and my son and I have had visitation with my daughters for the past 3 years. Recently paternity was established (encouraged by my aunt) for my oldest daughter, and as soon as her father tried to see her my aunt cut off all contact with him, bragged how SHE only had legal rights to kids, and then cut me out with no explanation. She abuses and neglects both of my daughters and has had more involvement with social workers then I ever did. I am trying to find out legally what can I do, can I even try to get custody of them back at this point? I am 32, and she is almost 70, her husband is almost 80 and has dementia. They are clearly not fit, and I am. I have a stable home, enough income to support them, I homeschool my son and am a great parent, I have numerous witnesses willing to speak on my behalf as well. If I cannot sue for custody, do I have any legal grounds to at least request partial custody or court ordered visitation? Did my aunt establish legal visitation by allowing them to see me and their brother for almost 3 years? What can I do?

In Ohio, you have to prove a substantial change of circumstance in the life of the children. What evidence do you have that she abuses and neglects the children?Has CSB intervened with her custody? Do you have visitation rights? If not, go back to court for a court ordered visitation schedule. What does your order (without using names) state regarding contact?

 

[dadinMS]

You mention adoption...did she adopt the children? If so, they are no longer your daughters.

 

[RachelsMercy]

You mention adoption...did she adopt the children? If so, they are no longer your daughters.

Respectfully, you have no idea what you are talking about. They have always called me mommy or mom, they have always been told I am their biological and real mother, by my aunt and uncle no less, and I did not willingly give them up I fought tooth and nail to get them back, I got stuck with a social worker who wanted her commission on adopting out 2 highly adoptable white blonde haired blue eyed babies. I am still on the birth certificate, and even my aunt and uncle acknowledge I am the mother and for the past 3 years until 3 days ago, my daughters were told they must listen to and obey their MOTHER, meaning ME, whenever they were with me. So again, respectfully, a piece of paper saying they were adopted means nothing to me or them. Thank you.

 

[Silverplum]

Respectfully, you have no idea what you are talking about. They have always called me mommy or mom, they have always been told I am their biological and real mother, by my aunt and uncle no less, and I did not willingly give them up I fought tooth and nail to get them back, I got stuck with a social worker who wanted her commission on adopting out 2 highly adoptable white blonde haired blue eyed babies. I am still on the birth certificate, and even my aunt and uncle acknowledge I am the mother and for the past 3 years until 3 days ago, my daughters were told they must listen to and obey their MOTHER, meaning ME, whenever they were with me. So again, respectfully, a piece of paper saying they were adopted means nothing to me or them. Thank you.

This is a legal website, and you are sorely mistaken.

They were adopted = The children are legally and permanently disassociated from you, legally.

 

[RachelsMercy]

This is a legal website, and you are sorely mistaken.

They were adopted = The children are legally and permanently disassociated from you, legally.

Respectfully, adoptions are reversed constantly, and seeing as the children are not being cared for, and "I" am the one supporting them financially almost COMPLETELY, and seeing as an almost 70 year old and almost 80 year old with dementia have been neglecting and abusing them, and seeing as for 3 years my son and I were involved regularly in their lives, I am pretty sure a judge would at MINIMUM state that I have established cause for legal visitation. I was asking on here to see more how I go about filing as my own attorney, and what the heck I need to do to start the process. Not to hear nasty people who seem to get off on telling people rude and nasty things. So unless you have advice on what steps I can take legally to at least petition for a visitation order, please do not respond to me. I will ignore it.

 

[Silverplum]

Respectfully, adoptions are reversed constantly, and seeing as the children are not being cared for, and "I" am the one supporting them financially almost COMPLETELY, and seeing as an almost 70 year old and almost 80 year old with dementia have been neglecting and abusing them, and seeing as for 3 years my son and I were involved regularly in their lives, I am pretty sure a judge would at MINIMUM state that I have established cause for legal visitation. I was asking on here to see more how I go about filing as my own attorney, and what the heck I need to do to start the process. Not to hear nasty people who seem to get off on telling people rude and nasty things. So unless you have advice on what steps I can take legally to at least petition for a visitation order, please do not respond to me. I will ignore it.

Okey-dokey.

 

[Ladyback1]

Respectfully, you have no idea what you are talking about. They have always called me mommy or mom, they have always been told I am their biological and real mother, by my aunt and uncle no less, and I did not willingly give them up I fought tooth and nail to get them back, I got stuck with a social worker who wanted her commission on adopting out 2 highly adoptable white blonde haired blue eyed babies. I am still on the birth certificate, and even my aunt and uncle acknowledge I am the mother and for the past 3 years until 3 days ago, my daughters were told they must listen to and obey their MOTHER, meaning ME, whenever they were with me. So again, respectfully, a piece of paper saying they were adopted means nothing to me or them. Thank you.

stow the attitude...OK?
Everybody that provides advice is a VOLUNTEER.

Perhaps your state is different, but a government employed social worker would not get a "commission" for an adoption (and government employed could be city, county/parish, state, etc.) in any of the 3 states I have lived in.

Even though you are on their birth certificate, even though they know you are their bio mom, even if they call you "MOM"--if the adoption went through and was finalized, LEGALLY speaking you have no rights at all to the children. NONE!

You need an attorney. Period. End of story. There is no way that you can obtain enough knowledge, skills, talents and advice here, to be able to pull this off pro se.

And really! Take your attitude, stick it in your back pocket and sit on it.
Stomping your feet, pounding your chest and having a hissy fit will not, under any circumstances, help you in the long run--whether it's here, or in a courtroom.

 

[dadinMS]

Well aren't you just a ray of sunshine? Legally I am correct. You are a legal stranger to them. They are no longer your children. Legally. Do you notice a pattern, this being a LEGAL advice website and all.

So you've been involved with them for 3 years....and? I've been involved on a daily basis with my stepdaughter for 10 years. Even provided 100% of her support at certain points. Doesn't give me any LEGAL rights to her. Heck our mail lady talks to the kids every day. Guess we should give her visitation with them...

 

[Ladyback1]

so, wait....where's the girls' father(s)?

Where was one or both of the fathers when you lost custody?

And were the kids adopted, without the father(s) being notified/made aware??

 

[Proserpina]

Respectfully, adoptions are reversed constantly,

No, no they're not.

If anything, reversing an adoption is incredibly rare.

and seeing as the children are not being cared for, and "I" am the one supporting them financially almost COMPLETELY, and seeing as an almost 70 year old and almost 80 year old with dementia have been neglecting and abusing them, and seeing as for 3 years my son and I were involved regularly in their lives, I am pretty sure a judge would at MINIMUM state that I have established cause for legal visitation. I was asking on here to see more how I go about filing as my own attorney, and what the heck I need to do to start the process. Not to hear nasty people who seem to get off on telling people rude and nasty things. So unless you have advice on what steps I can take legally to at least petition for a visitation order, please do not respond to me. I will ignore it.

What happened when you reported the alleged abuse to authorities?

 

[Proserpina]

Respectfully, you have no idea what you are talking about. They have always called me mommy or mom, they have always been told I am their biological and real mother, by my aunt and uncle no less, and I did not willingly give them up I fought tooth and nail to get them back, I got stuck with a social worker who wanted her commission on adopting out 2 highly adoptable white blonde haired blue eyed babies. I am still on the birth certificate, and even my aunt and uncle acknowledge I am the mother and for the past 3 years until 3 days ago, my daughters were told they must listen to and obey their MOTHER, meaning ME, whenever they were with me. So again, respectfully, a piece of paper saying they were adopted means nothing to me or them. Thank you.

Don't hide behind "respectfully". If you feel like you're all angry and hurt, at least have the common decency to acknowledge it.

If the children were adopted, YOU ARE NO LONGER THE PARENT.

 

[anearthw]

I'm sure ohiogal will respond back now that you confirmed adoption. That is likely the only free advice you will get from an Ohio attorney.

That being said, you are on dangerous ground. She can cut you out of their lives until 18 if you keep this up. You have no legal right to these children. If you truly believe they are being abused you can contact Cps, but that doesn't mean you will get them. Probably foster care.

You can't afford an attorney, how will you afford teenagers? Your best bet is just wait until they are 18. If you are concerned about abuse fine, but those claims aren't going to get those girls back.

That piece of paper means she can take out a restraining order and send you to prison if you try and continue against her wishes. It is NOT just paper.

 

[Just Blue]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

Requesting advice pro-bono, I cannot afford an attorney, but I desperately need some advice on what my rights and options are. I lost custody of 2 of my children (girls) 13 years ago to a maternal aunt. All of the allegations were false, found to be false, yet childrens services interfered in anything I did to try and get them back and pushed for adoption from day 1. I was allowed to visit them for about 5 years, then my aunt cut off all contact because they wanted to be with me. I had another child 7 years ago and have custody of him. About 3 years ago my aunt contacted me and my son and I have had visitation with my daughters for the past 3 years. Recently paternity was established (encouraged by my aunt) for my oldest daughter, and as soon as her father tried to see her my aunt cut off all contact with him, bragged how SHE only had legal rights to kids, and then cut me out with no explanation. She abuses and neglects both of my daughters and has had more involvement with social workers then I ever did. I am trying to find out legally what can I do, can I even try to get custody of them back at this point? I am 32, and she is almost 70, her husband is almost 80 and has dementia. They are clearly not fit, and I am. I have a stable home, enough income to support them, I homeschool my son and am a great parent, I have numerous witnesses willing to speak on my behalf as well. If I cannot sue for custody, do I have any legal grounds to at least request partial custody or court ordered visitation? Did my aunt establish legal visitation by allowing them to see me and their brother for almost 3 years? What can I do?

The 1st poster is an Attorney/GAL in Ohio. Perhaps you should listen to one.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Does this mean every teacher my children had in school can now file for visitation?