What to do about niece we are raising?

[carlslady]

My husband and I have 'had' my now 7 yr old blood niece since 12-25-04. My sister simply doesn't want to care for her. My mother was given temporary emergency custody in April 2004 and then the courts gave her back to my sister in September of 2004 after completing numerous things(parenting class, anger management, etc.) She decided she still didn't want to care for her so she brought her to 'stay' with us Christmas night 2004 and my niece hasn't left.

My sister wants us to raise her BUT doesn't want to let us adopt her. The birth father wants nothing to do with her. He hasn't seen her once in the 2yrs she has been with us.

Without dragging my niece through court custody battle and the tons of money spent what are our options if both parents are willing to let us keep her? Guardianship? Legal Custody?

Thank you!

[rmet4nzkx]

Apply for guardianship, the fact that the child was a ward of the court and mom voluntarily gave up custody as soon as she completed the court's reunification plan does not speak well for her. How old is the child? Are you receiving child support from both of the parents?

[carlslady]

TY for your response. I had lost this thread. Another 4 months gone by and still the same situation. How do I 'apply' for guardianship? Where do I go? What forms? etc. I am clueless. I would really like to do something but don't know where to start.

[carlslady]

BTW the child turned 8 this month and we got here at 5 3/4 yrs.

[mrtnzfamily243]

What state do you live in? I'm from California and I was able to go online to get the forms, you can also go to the forms window at the courthouse. Once we filled out all the paperwork, they gave us temporary guardianship right then and a court date for permanent guardianship.