AboutTerrie Expertise Hello, I am an adoptive mom, past foster parent, I also work with a support group for potential and current birth and adoptive parents. I am also very knowledgable about Open and Private adoption. As well as using a lawyer, counseling, Homestudies, Also Legal Guardianship.
Experience I am an adoptive mom, on online community leader, as well as I am the founder of an Support group for adoption, We help potential birth and adoptive parent's. Find answer's to their need. I also can refer them to appropriate resources.
Organizations United thru Adoption,Online community Leader on adoption concerning Open Adoption and Adopting an Older child.
Question Hello. This is a rather difficult situation. I am sixteen years old, almost seventeen. When I was five, my little brother and I were taken away from our mother and placed with our grandparents. We were in the Los Angeles County system for many years and because my family feared we could be snatched from them, they decided to adopt us. Originallly there was supposed to be a kinship agreement, but my grandmother, after my mom had relinquished her rights, changed it and adopted us completely without telling her, because they had a fight. I stayed in contact, however, with my mom over the years. I spent a lot of time with her and my younger siblings. My grandmother has mental problems, though she'd never admit it. She moved me to the state of Washington, far away from my mom and my younger siblings who I am very close to. Right now I am in California visiting, and I really don't want to leave. Is there any way at all that I can choose to live with my birthmother legally? There are none of the problems that were there when my mom lost me. She has been clean and sober for 12 years and is raising my 11 year old sister, 5 year old brother, and 3 year old brother. Please, please help me.
Answer Darcy You need to talk to a lawyer. As far as I know and I am Only an adoptive mom. So I know nothing of the laws of the state your in or from. You cannot live with your birthmom without your legal parent that being your grandmothers approval and permission. Without it she could cause serious problems for your mom. I would talk to a legal aid lawyer. Good Luck
