custody of non-biological child

My son had his "girlfriend" and baby move in with us in June. I asked her to move out in September. She did but left the baby. She has maybe seen the baby three times since then. Even when she was living with us my son did everything for the baby. He changed her, fed her, bathed her, got up with her, etc. The baby is about to turn one. My son has been the only daddy she's known since whe was four months old. We all love the baby and have become very attached to her and her to us. I feel sometimes that I wat to report the mother but I do not want the baby to end up in the system. Does my son have any rights concerning the child? He would love to have legal custody of her. Right now he is afraid to tell the mom that he knows she is just using him and to stay away because he is worried that if he does she will take the baby and then who knows what will happen to her so he just keeps quiet.

he has 0 rights to the child

[sunlover]

In fact if Mom left child and your son is not Father you should report this to social services. I understand you dont want child in system but not doing so can carry consequences on you

[Gbyte]

You could contact and attorney and file for temporary emergency custody.

Do you know if a father is listed on the birth cert? Non-relatives CAN get custody on occassion. It's not completely impossible. The mother and father will be give first preference even if the non-bio "dad" gets temp custody.

This is a hard situation, but if anything happened to the baby in your care or you signed for something medical there could be legal consequences. Obviously she is an unfit mother, but the court usually only gives rights for family to foster parent children or they go in the system. I would contact social services and see what they can do for you. It is the only solution unfortunately, but sometimes they opt to not take the child from where they have had stability. Anything is better than having that woman for a mother.

[Gbyte]

I'd definately contact an attorney BEFORE social services.

Originally Posted by Gbyte You could contact and attorney and file for temporary emergency custody. .

she cannot get custody because right now, her son has no rights, and she has even less. she is not grandma right now,

[Gbyte]

It CAN happen. Doesn't happen often...but it can. I watched a friend of mine get custody of a 12 year old girl that he's not related too and never even dated the mother.

Can you please explain what process your friend used to gain custody?

there isnt any, she makes things up all the time! this site needs to rank her based on her quality of advice, not the quantity, as she has a story for every post