What is the name of your state? Indiana
Backstory: My husband and his ex (child's mother) dated briefly and broke up during her pregnancy. She was involved with child's stepdad for a while before he went to prison. While in prison, husband and her got back together for under 1 year. This is the only time he was involved in child's life. She was 2-3 at the time. He has reached out multiple times to establish a relationship and she has kept him from seeing his daughter, even at one point telling him she had a DNA test with another man and the other man was the father. I encouraged my husband to establish paternity through the court system, but he did not.
Present issue: Mother was involved in a domestic violence case with her father (paternal grandfather). The children, including my husband's daughter, were present for the incident. Because of this, DCS became involved. Mother came up with a safety plan for herself and her children, but did not follow through. She denied any drug use but failed for THC, amphetamines, and methamphetamine on 2 occasions. She had a domestic incident with her husband (stepdad) that he went to jail for. She moved multiple known drug users into her house with the children, as well as leaving her children with known drug users to babysit them. Daughter also missed multiple days of school in a row. All the happened over the course of about a month, and DCS removed the children. They were placed with stepdad's aunt.
As soon as husband heard of the children being removed, he called DCS and we've been avidly involved since then. Husband missed the first court date after we became aware of situation because it was 30 minutes from time of phone call and we live 45 minutes away. Husband attended the second court date where DNA test was taken and we were given the details of the DCS investigation and why daughter was removed. DNA came back that my husband is her father, so visitation was established. He was told he will have therapeutic visits 2 hours a week for 12 hours (so 6 weeks), then 4-6 hour visits once a week for 36 hours (so 6-9 weeks), and then they will do overnight visits.
Daughter is now 8. More has come to light since paternity was established. Daughter just finished kindergarten and is going into 1st grade; she should be in 3rd grade right now, but her mother waited 2 years to enroll her in schooling. Daughter is being evaluated for developmental delays. Mom is currently in rehab in a different town, unknown if she has visitation at this point. Daughter does have visitation with stepdad.
Our next court date is October 15th for review. Husband was provided with a checklist of things mother must do to get children back, among them staying clean, getting a job, and a house. Mother is 28 and has never held a job or paid housing expenses on her own. She has always relied on someone else. He has been told by multiple case workers that they are very impressed with him, and have discussed placement of his daughter with us once relationship is established.
My husband would like to gain full custody of his daughter. We have a house, 2 steady incomes, 4 children (2 from my previous relationship and 2 together) and are more than able to provide everything needed. What are the odds that we will be granted full custody? Any experience with this? Any idea of how long DCS may be involved in a situation like this?
Backstory: My husband and his ex (child's mother) dated briefly and broke up during her pregnancy. She was involved with child's stepdad for a while before he went to prison. While in prison, husband and her got back together for under 1 year. This is the only time he was involved in child's life. She was 2-3 at the time. He has reached out multiple times to establish a relationship and she has kept him from seeing his daughter, even at one point telling him she had a DNA test with another man and the other man was the father. I encouraged my husband to establish paternity through the court system, but he did not.
Present issue: Mother was involved in a domestic violence case with her father (paternal grandfather). The children, including my husband's daughter, were present for the incident. Because of this, DCS became involved. Mother came up with a safety plan for herself and her children, but did not follow through. She denied any drug use but failed for THC, amphetamines, and methamphetamine on 2 occasions. She had a domestic incident with her husband (stepdad) that he went to jail for. She moved multiple known drug users into her house with the children, as well as leaving her children with known drug users to babysit them. Daughter also missed multiple days of school in a row. All the happened over the course of about a month, and DCS removed the children. They were placed with stepdad's aunt.
As soon as husband heard of the children being removed, he called DCS and we've been avidly involved since then. Husband missed the first court date after we became aware of situation because it was 30 minutes from time of phone call and we live 45 minutes away. Husband attended the second court date where DNA test was taken and we were given the details of the DCS investigation and why daughter was removed. DNA came back that my husband is her father, so visitation was established. He was told he will have therapeutic visits 2 hours a week for 12 hours (so 6 weeks), then 4-6 hour visits once a week for 36 hours (so 6-9 weeks), and then they will do overnight visits.
Daughter is now 8. More has come to light since paternity was established. Daughter just finished kindergarten and is going into 1st grade; she should be in 3rd grade right now, but her mother waited 2 years to enroll her in schooling. Daughter is being evaluated for developmental delays. Mom is currently in rehab in a different town, unknown if she has visitation at this point. Daughter does have visitation with stepdad.
Our next court date is October 15th for review. Husband was provided with a checklist of things mother must do to get children back, among them staying clean, getting a job, and a house. Mother is 28 and has never held a job or paid housing expenses on her own. She has always relied on someone else. He has been told by multiple case workers that they are very impressed with him, and have discussed placement of his daughter with us once relationship is established.
My husband would like to gain full custody of his daughter. We have a house, 2 steady incomes, 4 children (2 from my previous relationship and 2 together) and are more than able to provide everything needed. What are the odds that we will be granted full custody? Any experience with this? Any idea of how long DCS may be involved in a situation like this?
