In our case, we knew my husband's daughter would voluntarily sign over the three kids to us. We had to petition the court for temporary custody, and she had to sign the papers and be interviewed by someone in the family court.

Then a hearing date was set, and all bios were notified of our petition. Nobody showed up, so the judge awarded us custody. Other than anticipating that someone would try to contest it, it really went very smoothly.

(This was in NJ)

I forgot to mention that we had to be interviewed, as well.

Both my grandson's parents signed to give us legal guardianship of our grandson. I originally made an appointment with an attorney but she we wonderful. She told me that, at least in our state, if both parents were willing to sign then we would not need an attorney. She told me where to go to get the papers and how to fill them out, and she did not charge me anything for the consultation.

With my 6 year old the mother wanted me to have her since the court would not let her due to child endangerment charges. I petitioned the court myself (25 dollar fee) and after two hearings with judge and a guardian ad liem I got custody. The teenagers were similar except one dad kept it in court longer than it should have been. I petitioned for custody in all 3 cases so I would have legal right to make decisions for them, like consent for medical care. You sjopuld have something from the courts for just this reason.

They prefer to place w/family member but if your daughter says she doesn't want you to have child, they may have to place with foster.

yeah that worries me that she might petition for baby to be moved. So far the father and his parents like my having the baby, since I let them visit with her often. Biomom is getting really POed at me for not catering to her, and I wouldn't put it past her to tell DSS to move child, but at this point I have been caring for her since May, by DSS treament plan since August, so maybe a judge would say forget you we aren't moving a stable 11 month old because you are feeling vindictive. And she probably thinks I will cave eventually.

I would find it very hard to believe that DSS would move a child that has been with you in a stable environment just because the Biomom isn't happy about it. That certainly wouldn't be within the boundries of the best interest of the child. Can you imagine? Having her since May only to have her sent to a foster home? That would be outlandish and I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about.

I agree with Daisy and NannaK. You are a family member, a close one, at that, and you are following the prescribed plan. It's the biomom who's coming in from the outside, so to speak, and trying to dictate the rules.

I wouldn't worry but I would be prepared. After all, there is the case of JoesMommy...

My granddaughter was placed with me at the request of bio-parents. I had to go get her from a different state. She had to live with me for 6 months in VA before I could file for custody. I had a letter to the judge from my son, plus I had to run an ad, notice of court action, in the newspaper for several weeks for both parents, just to be on the safe side. Neither appeared, my son was in jail at the time. The judge gave me sole custody of the baby. I did this without a lawyer. I went to the clerk of juvenile court and got the papers, filled them out, got a court date, paid the filing fees. I was told by the clerk to file the newspaper ad. I called the paper in their city, explained what I needed and paid the fees for ad to run. I also did a lot of praying and my prayers were answered.

In our case dil placed the children here as an agreement of saftey. As there was abuse charge. DFS could had closed the case but we didn't let them. We went to the lawyer and applied for guardenship and were granted it. DS signed power of attorney over in the begining and then signed guardenship papers. DIL never was seen or heard from. and to this day never seen or heard from. DS and DIL have contact with each other but none with the children. As soon as we recieved guardenship we closed case with DFS.(Div. of Family Services)