Steps to Take to Re-Establish Custody

[Daiyne Nelson]

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Washington.

My boyfriend would very much like to regain custody of his daughter. He was young when she was born, and was easily convinced by her maternal grandparents that he should give up his custodial rights to them when he and the mother separated. Now that he is older and has a good job and we have a nice home to welcome her into, he would like to regain custody of his child. However, her maternal grandparents make every effort to keep him from seeing her at all, and he is sure that they will fight to keep her. They isolate her from her paternal family, and we are unsure of what steps to take to gain custody of her without causing turmoil for the child.

Any help that we could get as to what steps to take and in what order so that we can do this without too much of a fight would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you.

[aardvarc]

was easily convinced by her maternal grandparents that he should give up his custodial rights to them when he and the mother separated

Were his parental rights actually terminated by a judge? who has legal custody or guardianship of the child now?

Now that he is older and has a good job and we have a nice home to welcome her into, he would like to regain custody of his child.

Doesn't really work that way. The courts don't just put children on hold while parents grow up for a few years and then hand them back. SOMEONE has legal attachment and responsibility for this child - and the courts aren't going to turn the child's whole life around just because dad is finally ready to be a dad. He's gonna hafta go through some steps - assuming that he still has the possiblity of legal rights regarding the child (if his rights were terminated, it's a done deal).

we are unsure of what steps to take to gain custody of her without causing turmoil for the child

Dad needs to first determine his exact legal status regarding the child. If his rights have NOT been terminated, he needs to find out the child's legal status. Was the child adopted? Were grandparents made legal guardians? Until the child's status can be determined, the next steps will be on hold.

Where is the mother?

[Dogmatique]

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Washington.

My boyfriend would very much like to regain custody of his daughter. He was young when she was born, and was easily convinced by her maternal grandparents that he should give up his custodial rights to them when he and the mother separated. Now that he is older and has a good job and we have a nice home to welcome her into, he would like to regain custody of his child. However, her maternal grandparents make every effort to keep him from seeing her at all, and he is sure that they will fight to keep her. They isolate her from her paternal family, and we are unsure of what steps to take to gain custody of her without causing turmoil for the child.

Any help that we could get as to what steps to take and in what order so that we can do this without too much of a fight would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you.

I have a couple of questions.

Was this guardianship voluntary?

How old is the child?

Where is Mom?