Q: What can I do to get my 6 year old cousin some help? He is the most unruly kid ive ever seen.
My aunt has custody of this boy and she is 70. The boys mom is in jail and I'm afraid he is going to hurt her.
A: First, I would suggest talking to you aunt and trying to convince her that perhaps someone else might be able to provide better care for the child. ( an awkward conversation for sure, but if its really as bad as you say, doing "nothing" is not an option either). If no agreement can be made, someone ( anyone, really) can file a petition in juvenile court asserting that the child is "dependent and neglected" and these terms have a legal meaning. If the judge agrees and makes that finding, the Judge can then order an appropriate placement- with another family member, if there are any willing to volunteer or to foster care ( family will always be preferred over state custody). If no one wants to file the petition, the only options would be reporting the situation ( you can do so anonymously) to the Department of Childrens Services ( DCS) or perhaps to Adult protective Services. Hope this helps.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
