Q: I want to get full custody of my 4 year old niece who lost her mom last year. My brother brought her to me last March.
I have cared for her ever since. I have been taking care of her for almost a year and would like to make this a more permanent situation. As of late my brother and eye have not been seeing eye to eye. He got upset with me over money. And now he continues to threaten to pull her out of school and her extra curricular activities. She was enrolled in school for the first time by myself. He is constantly in and out of jail and is not able to provide a safe place for her. He was arrested about 4 times last year 2020 and is still fighting multiple charges. He has no place to live or a job. He is hoping from house to house and is not stable. He always never claimed rights to her after her mom passed and he never signed the birth certificate. His birthdate is on the birth certificate. All in all I just want to do what is best for her. I strongly believe that what’s best for her is to be here with me. I have been helping her mom with her since birth, he was incarcerated her entire life.
A: I'm sorry to hear you are going through such a tough situation with your brother and niece. As an aunt who currently has physical custody, you have the right to ask the court for custody. It is important that we move quickly to get this done. We would be happy to help with getting you custody. Contact out office at 770-723-7211 and we can schedule time to discuss the process to immediately get you the legal help you need.
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A: I’m sorry you are going through this and I’m happy to hear that she has someone who cares so much about her well being. You may have options that you can explore. You should consult with an attorney who can review the facts of the case in detail and help you plan the proper course of action.
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