My Aunt Isn't Allowing Me to See My Children

[autum777]

i have this major problem and i desperatly need advice. heres the run down....last year march 05 i found myself homeless. i couldnt imagine having my 2 girls bouncing from house to house so therefore i asked my aunt if she would care for my kids until i became stable. she agreed and swore she would never keep me from seeing my kids. during the time my kids have been with my aunt i always went to visit and spend time with my girls, my aunt always had a contact number to reach me at in case of any emergency. i have given my aunt power of attourney for the kids in case it was needed. my aunt filed for state assistance without my knowledge so she is recieveing benefits from the state now. jsut recently she has not allowed me to go see the girls, i have tried numerous times without any results. since she is on state assistance she is recieving child support and on the child support papers it says that she is the custodial parent. now we have never went to court to establish sole custody of the kids so is she the custodial parent now? what can i do legally to see my kids? i am their birth mother, but yet i am not allowed to see my kids.....i am stable now and i wanted to start being in their lives like im supposed too. ive always been a part of their lives and they know me as mom but i dont know what to do legally. i have gone to her house many times while she was at home with the girls but she never answers the door, i call all the time and she doesnt answer the phone she also ignores my voice mails too. what can i do? what are my rights as the mother??? someone please help!!!!!!

[aaron]

If she has no court authorization for custody, that is she only has the power of attorney you granted, you should be able to revoke that power of attorney at any time and take your kids back. (You should take care that there is not a court order in place, perhaps entered without your knowledge.) You can confirm your rights with a local lawyer (local to where the kids are).

[chell9900]

thats correct, i dont see how she is getting aid if she doesnt have papers saying she is legal gaurdian, POA can be revoked at anytime by you.