trying to get custody of my nephew

[larosegrif]

What is the name of your state? Kansas

My brother and his wife had their 6 week old baby taken away while visiting our aunt in Texas. They live in Oklahoma and haven't been doing what they need to do to get the baby back. I live in Kansas, and am trying to get custody of the baby who is now almost five months old. The state of Texas wants to do an interstate copmact. This could take a lot of time. The baby is already having problems because he is not getting any affection. He cries all the time becsuse he has no emotional attachment. His social worker is trying to place him in a different home with a family who can adopt him. I want to get him with me before any perament damage is done to this baby's ability to form emotional relationships.

Is there any way to speed up the process of an interstate compact or to avoid it all together? Please writhe back. I can use all the information I can get.

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state? Kansas

My brother and his wife had their 6 week old baby taken away while visiting our aunt in Texas. They live in Oklahoma and haven't been doing what they need to do to get the baby back. The Mother is only Sixteen and already has an eighteen month old son in state custody now she lost custody of this baby because she is too irresponsible for a baby. The state of Texas is telling my brother that they're going to sever his and his wife's rights to the baby and adopt him out. I want to gain custody of him before this happens, but I live in Kansas and do not know how to proceed across state lines. My family had already talked to some people in child services in Texas and we were told that we could not get him across state lines. My two sisters, my mother, and I all live within 30 miles of each other and are all available to help with support of this child. I am also married with three children of my own. I am in the process of getting a lawyer but I don't know if I should get a Kansas lawyer or one in Texas. I can not afford to get one in both states.

You need one in Texas...Texas has the baby.

 

[mom2J]

Hello Larosegrif,

I am NOT an attorney, but have been through your exact type of case. You can PM and we can talk about it. This is not impossible to do, but could take time.

Can you contact your brother and sister-in-law and have them ask Texas for you to be put as the child's "relative placement". That would make things so much easier. Now, it doesn't guarantee the child will go with you, but it's a start.

Now, contact the social worker and the child's GAL and state to them you want to be the relative placement, because most states would prefer to have a relative placement before a "stranger". Also, it can relieve the state of it's financial obligation.

The state would have to do an ICPC for the child to be able to be placed in another state. This could take a while to achieve. Find out what Texas requires for a relative placement to occur. You are close enough in the family line for most states to place with you. I've got a lot more, but could end up typing for hours.

Just some friendly advice from someone that's "been there, done that". We at that time, only had an attorney in the state where the child was living.
Mom2J