Step daughter custody and or visitation

[Ready for freedom]

I raised my step daughter since she was 2 years old. Her birth mother passed away when she was a baby. Now after 10 years of marriage, my husband and I are getting a divorce. My husband has pawned his daughter off on his second oldest son and his wife, so her father is not even taking care of her. I took care of her for almost a year after he left us. What are my chances of getting custody or visition rights. I am the only person she has known as a mom. Of all my step children, she is the only one that ever did call me mom. We live in the state of Illinois. Please help!

 

[LegalBeagle]

I raised my step daughter since she was 2 years old. Her birth mother passed away when she was a baby. Now after 10 years of marriage, my husband and I are getting a divorce. My husband has pawned his daughter off on his second oldest son and his wife, so her father is not even taking care of her. I took care of her for almost a year after he left us. What are my chances of getting custody or visition rights. I am the only person she has known as a mom. Of all my step children, she is the only one that ever did call me mom. We live in the state of Illinois. Please help!

I can only speak generally.. but if you have been the only mother figure for this child, and the bio father has effectively abandoned her, then your chances at gaining custody are pretty good. You will need a family law attorney and you will need to act sooner, rather than later.