Can a 17 year old be left custody of 1 year old?

[summerfaith]

For a few months now, one of my closest friends has known that she has a brain tumor. When she first found out, the doctors told her she should still have a good few years before anything drastic would happen. Yesterday at her appointment, they told her she needs to make arrangements.. and they are further going over everything with her, today. Both of her parents are unfit, and they are the last people that she'd want to leave her daughter with. There is also no father in the picture, or with any legal obligations. She was planning on leaving her with me.. however, I won't be 18 for a few more months.. and what if something happened before then? Is there any way she'd still be able to leave her with me? What can be done in this situation so that this little girl isn't left with her parents, or put in the system? This is why she was planning on leaving her with me... I can support her right now, that wouldn't be a problem. I graduated high school early, and will be finished my degree in less than a year. I make good money, especially for my age, so I wouldn't be "unfit" for such a position. I will do anything it takes to make sure this little girl is taken care of. So please, whatever it takes.. please tell me. Thank you .

Originally Posted by summerfaith For a few months now, one of my closest friends has known that she has a brain tumor. When she first found out, the doctors told her she should still have a good few years before anything drastic would happen. Yesterday at her appointment, they told her she needs to make arrangements.. and they are further going over everything with her, today. Both of her parents are unfit, and they are the last people that she'd want to leave her daughter with. There is also no father in the picture, or with any legal obligations. She was planning on leaving her with me.. however, I won't be 18 for a few more months.. and what if something happened before then? Is there any way she'd still be able to leave her with me? What can be done in this situation so that this little girl isn't left with her parents, or put in the system? This is why she was planning on leaving her with me... I can support her right now, that wouldn't be a problem. I graduated high school early, and will be finished my degree in less than a year. I make good money, especially for my age, so I wouldn't be "unfit" for such a position. I will do anything it takes to make sure this little girl is taken care of. So please, whatever it takes.. please tell me. Thank you .

you are too young to get custody of this child nor do you have any legal standing to get custody.you are not a family member. the child will go to a family member that is found suitable to have custody.

u could try to adopt her.. otherwise i'm not sure if u can get custody of the lil girl

Originally Posted by summerfaith For a few months now, one of my closest friends has known that she has a brain tumor. When she first found out, the doctors told her she should still have a good few years before anything drastic would happen. Yesterday at her appointment, they told her she needs to make arrangements.. and they are further going over everything with her, today. Both of her parents are unfit, and they are the last people that she'd want to leave her daughter with. There is also no father in the picture, or with any legal obligations. She was planning on leaving her with me.. however, I won't be 18 for a few more months.. and what if something happened before then? Is there any way she'd still be able to leave her with me? What can be done in this situation so that this little girl isn't left with her parents, or put in the system? This is why she was planning on leaving her with me... I can support her right now, that wouldn't be a problem. I graduated high school early, and will be finished my degree in less than a year. I make good money, especially for my age, so I wouldn't be "unfit" for such a position. I will do anything it takes to make sure this little girl is taken care of. So please, whatever it takes.. please tell me. Thank you .

How old is your friend? That has some bearing on your case.

[calgaryimmigrat]

Originally Posted by summerfaith For a few months now, one of my closest friends has known that she has a brain tumor. When she first found out, the doctors told her she should still have a good few years before anything drastic would happen. Yesterday at her appointment, they told her she needs to make arrangements.. and they are further going over everything with her, today. Both of her parents are unfit, and they are the last people that she'd want to leave her daughter with. There is also no father in the picture, or with any legal obligations. She was planning on leaving her with me.. however, I won't be 18 for a few more months.. and what if something happened before then? Is there any way she'd still be able to leave her with me? What can be done in this situation so that this little girl isn't left with her parents, or put in the system? This is why she was planning on leaving her with me... I can support her right now, that wouldn't be a problem. I graduated high school early, and will be finished my degree in less than a year. I make good money, especially for my age, so I wouldn't be "unfit" for such a position. I will do anything it takes to make sure this little girl is taken care of. So please, whatever it takes.. please tell me. Thank you .

First of all, i would like to ask you, if ever the child's custody was given to you, are you willing to take full responsibility of the child's well-being?

Though you sounded very mature in handling the situation, i couldn't set aside the fact that you are 17 (and still 17 until you turned 18), and taking care of a child is not an easy thing to do. Even you are financially stable and have a good job, it would not be very easy to raise a child. It will take a lot of your time, energy and patience to raise them, and your responsibility would not end with that.

I understand that as a friend, you wanted to help your friend with her problem, but still, this situation is quite a lot to handle.

However, if you are REALLY willing to take charge of the child's well-being, you better ask your friend's relatives and your friend about the situation, you can even consult your trusted attorney for necessary legal action.

Good luck, and let's hope for the best for you, your friend and her child

[Lexus]

I would like to inform you that almost all courts use a standard that gives the "best interests of the child" the highest priority when deciding custody issues. With younger children, this may mean awarding custody to the parent who has been the child's primary caregiver.

[goddessoflubboc]

Your friend needs to consult with an atty. when my first husband died I didn't want my parents to have custody if I died. He created a will and an estate plan giving my friends custody, funded by a life insurance policy I made them beneficiary of.

Point being a parent can choose a non-family member.

Your age is an issue. Would YOUR parents stand in on your behalf?

[Friend In Court]

Since a few months is all the time in question, being of age should not be a problem. She needs to make out her will immediately, appointing you guardian of her child. And leave a copy with you as well as the lawyer who makes her will.

There is always the possibility of the biological father showing up at some later date to challenge your guardianship of the child, but that is a bridge you may never have to cross.

The attorney who draws her will should be a family law attorney and one willing to meet with both of you so he or she can help you deal with anything that can be anticipated so it will meet with approval of the courts should anyone contest it.