Q: My daughter’s friend (16) and her infant child were kicked out of her mother’s. She is staying with our family and we
would like to provide a long term and safe environment for them. What formal agreements or legal status can we be granted for this situation?
Her mother’s home is not safe for her or her child. Emancipation is not an option in Ohio. Her mother would be willing to “sign off” on some kind of documentation but we are unsure of the proper process.
We are not interested in receiving any support from her mother.
A:
You have three options so long as the biological mother is willing to sign-off.
1) Adoption. You can adopt the daughter, which would permanently cut off the biological mother from future parenting.
2) Guardianship. You could assert yourself as a guardian over the child in probate court.
3) Custody change in juvenile court. You could seek custody as a non-biological parent.
There are significant pros and cons for each process, but any of them could get you the outcome you want.
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