Sibling Custody In Tennessee

I am a responsible, financially secure, married adult with a thirteen year old brother. My brother lives with our alcoholic mother. My mother has major health issues and is mentally ill (undiagnosed). She is mentally abusive and is irresponsible in caring for my brother. Fortunately, my brother is a good student and a great kid. Recently, things have gotten worse at home. My mother also has a live-in boyfriend with a drug problem and a lengthy criminal record. Last night, the police called me to come and get my brother. My mother's boyfriend was supposed to be picking up my brother from a friend's house. He got arrested (no license), and the police needed me to pick up my brother. The arrest was in a very bad part of town, pretty late at night (9pm) for a kid to be out on a school night.

I have had it with my mother's irresponsibility. My brother is entering his teen years and needs structure. My husband and I want to get custody of my brother before he goes down the wrong path. I'm afraid that my mother will fight this. What are my chances? Any advice or help would be appreciated.

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Quoting rachel77

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I am a responsible, financially secure, married adult with a thirteen year old brother. My brother lives with our alcoholic mother. My mother has major health issues and is mentally ill (undiagnosed). She is mentally abusive and is irresponsible in caring for my brother. Fortunately, my brother is a good student and a great kid. Recently, things have gotten worse at home. My mother also has a live-in boyfriend with a drug problem and a lengthy criminal record. Last night, the police called me to come and get my brother. My mother's boyfriend was supposed to be picking up my brother from a friend's house. He got arrested (no license), and the police needed me to pick up my brother. The arrest was in a very bad part of town, pretty late at night (9pm) for a kid to be out on a school night.

I have had it with my mother's irresponsibility. My brother is entering his teen years and needs structure. My husband and I want to get custody of my brother before he goes down the wrong path. I'm afraid that my mother will fight this. What are my chances? Any advice or help would be appreciated.

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Have you reported the abuse/neglect to CPS? If not, that is the first thing you can do, and be sure to let them know that you are willing to take temporary custody. They will investigate and if they remove your brother from the home you can be temporary custodian rather than a foster home.