Teen Seeking Guardianship Removed from Parents and to Friend

[itstimcox]

My question involves guardianship in the State of: Indiana

(Sorry, didn't know the username rule before joining)

I need to have guardianship of myself removed from my neglectful and emotionally abusive mother and granted to an 18-year-old friend, or if thats not possible then to his mother. I believe my mother would be willing to sign the papers, but I'd like info on how to make this happen if she'd grant the guardianship AND if she'd be against it just in case.

Also, in case it's not already clear, I am not aware of the age restriction for adopting someone (could be 21 or 33 for all I know).

Thank you!

[cbg]

There is no way on God's green earth a judge will remove guardianship from your parents and give it to an 18 year old. You would have a better chance of winning the lottery and being struck by lightning on the same day. The law ain't stupid, my friend.

If your mother is willing to surrender guardianship to your friend's mother, then the two of them can complete the appropriate forms and that will be that.

If, however, your mother is not willing, then your friend's mother will have to go to court to petition for the change. A judge may or may not grant it, depending on whether he agrees with you that your mother is "neglectful and emotionally abusive". Considering that most if not all teens believe this about their parents, whether it is true or not, your guess is as good as mine whether a judge will go along with it.

[itstimcox]

Thank you for your reply.

Does a judge need to be seen at all if she's willing to grant guardianship?

Where do I go to get the papers?

[cbg]

If your mother is willing to grant guardianship, there do not need to be any court proceedings.

I do not advise that YOU get the paperwork. IF your mother is willing to grant guardianship, she can contact the clerk of court's office.

[cyjeff]

What is your emotional relationship to the 18 year old?

I am not asking to be nosey. I am asking because your chances of being placed in the home of a boy/girlfriend is none.

[itstimcox]

What is your emotional relationship to the 18 year old?

I am not asking to be nosey. I am asking because your chances of being placed in the home of a boy/girlfriend is none.

Just a friend. Known him well for a couple years.

[aardvarc]

Unless the emotional abuse includes things like prostituting you out, forcing you to watch others having deviant sex or being tortured or something pretty extreme (most of which involve the commission of crimes of one form or another), courts don't consider emotional abuse. EVERY teen believes they are emotionally abused. Courts want something SUBSTANTIAL - something that would shock the senses of a reasonable person. Yelling, name calling, being strict, being distant, being mean or evil or hating all your friends are all legal, and not considered emotionally abusive (remember, just because something isn't psychologically HEALTHY doesn't mean it meets the extreme level that is considered active emotional abuse - and active abuse is what courts act on).

If you are accusing neglect, then you need something to back that up - such as a report from your local health department, code enforcement board, or child protection agency - or photos of the conditions that you believe are neglectful. If you are being provided shelter, weather appropriate clothing, fed daily, have clean water to drink and bathe in, and aren't cohabitating with 50 cats, or dead mice, or have roach droppings all over the house, or some other apparant immediate threat to health and safety, then you don't have neglect.

[itstimcox]

EVERY teen believes they are emotionally abused.

The difference between me and every other teen is that a) I have felt need enough to go to the extent of coming here and calling local legal help offices, b) I have adult family members and other adults who will agree in court that my living conditions are not healthy, and c) past events in my life increase the affects that my living conditions have on me.

No more "EVERY TEEN" crap, please. I'm not every teen. Thank you to those who are providing help without opinion, I appreciate it.

[cyjeff]

The difference between me and every other teen is that a) I have felt need enough to go to the extent of coming here and calling local legal help offices, b) I have adult family members and other adults who will agree in court that my living conditions are not healthy, and c) past events in my life increase the affects that my living conditions have on me.

No more "EVERY TEEN" crap, please. I'm not every teen. Thank you to those who are providing help without opinion, I appreciate it.

Lighten up.

To a court, you ARE "EVERY TEEN". Coming to this website, involving a multitude of adults that may or may not have the training or authority to make a decision as to your living condition or the fact that your past needs are not being addressed to your liking do not change the answer you have been given.

[525601minutes]

I have adult family members and other adults who will agree in court that my living conditions are not healthy

These adults should call child protective services... or even you can call on your own behalf.