Comments on: What would be the first step if i wanted to legally adopt my younger siblings? http://parenting-n-families.com/content/family-relationships/2010051914736.html Raising Your Kids and Keeping Your Cool Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:40:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Herschel http://parenting-n-families.com/content/family-relationships/2010051914736.html/comment-page-1#comment-63772 Herschel Wed, 19 May 2010 13:05:31 +0000 http://parenting-n-families.com/content/family-relationships/2010051914736.html#comment-63772 This depends on the laws in your specific state. In the vast majority of states, you'll have to be eighteen or emancipated and be able to demonstrate to the family court that you are capable of raising AND supporting your siblings. If you and your siblings are in foster care -- which I suspect if your mother abandoned you -- than talk to your DSHS worker first. If you want to talk to a lawyer, see if there is a "Legal Aide" society where you live or family attorney's that do "pro bono" work, i.e. "for free". Call your state's "Bar Association" for a referral. Again, though, if you're not at least 18 or emancipated, this won't go anywhere. Good luck. This depends on the laws in your specific state. In the vast majority of states, you’ll have to be eighteen or emancipated and be able to demonstrate to the family court that you are capable of raising AND supporting your siblings.

If you and your siblings are in foster care — which I suspect if your mother abandoned you — than talk to your DSHS worker first.

If you want to talk to a lawyer, see if there is a “Legal Aide” society where you live or family attorney’s that do “pro bono” work, i.e. “for free”. Call your state’s “Bar Association” for a referral.

Again, though, if you’re not at least 18 or emancipated, this won’t go anywhere.

Good luck.

]]> By: Jordan http://parenting-n-families.com/content/family-relationships/2010051914736.html/comment-page-1#comment-63771 Jordan Wed, 19 May 2010 12:42:47 +0000 http://parenting-n-families.com/content/family-relationships/2010051914736.html#comment-63771 Firstly, if you are under 18 then you wouldn't legally be able to adopt them. Secondly, you would have to get in touch with social services and let them take care of it Thirdly, the siblings must give consent for you to be their legal guardian, and if one of the siblings is too young to speak, then consent must be given from the current guardian/parent, or enough reason for social services to take the baby away. Firstly, if you are under 18 then you wouldn’t legally be able to adopt them.

Secondly, you would have to get in touch with social services and let them take care of it

Thirdly, the siblings must give consent for you to be their legal guardian, and if one of the siblings is too young to speak, then consent must be given from the current guardian/parent, or enough reason for social services to take the baby away.

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