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  1. #1
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    Default Can a 19 Year Old Get Custody of a Younger Sibling After a Neglect Investigation

    My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: Virginia
    As a child, I got adopted by my paternal grandparents. This was due to my parents being on drugs and partying every night while I was at home as a toddler. Now my younger sister is in the same position. Social services has already been called. She has told me that she wants to live with me. My boyfriend and I just moved into our own house, I go to college and have a steady job, and my boyfriend has a full time job. I am 19, my boyfriend is 20, and my younger sister will be 12 in May. I need to know if there would be any way social services would let me have custody of her, or somehow live with me. She is terrified of what is going to happen and I would like to give her a little peace by knowing if there is a chance she could live with us.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Can a 19 Year Old Get Custody of a Younger Sibling After Protective Services Remo

    It's a long shot but, if the child has been removed from her home and is now the subject of protective proceedings, you can raise the issue with the social worker assigned to your sister's case. If the investigation did not result in removal or a substantiated neglect case, such that no court proceedings are pending, you can ask your parents if they will consent to letting your sister live with you.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Can a 19 Year Old Get Custody of a Younger Sibling After Protective Services Remo

    A 19 yr old living withh her 20 yr old boyfriend has no business with the custody of a child that is Almost 12 yr old, even if it is her sister. Lets start with he basics, how will you pay for her food, clothes, medical insurance, school supplies, not to mention countless other things ? A lot of other things are involved with raising a child, especially a teenager, that you just aren't equiped to do, you are still a teenager yourself.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Can a 19 Year Old Get Custody of a Younger Sibling After Protective Services Remo

    Quote Quoting Mercy&Grace
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    A 19 yr old living withh her 20 yr old boyfriend has no business with the custody of a child that is Almost 12 yr old, even if it is her sister. Lets start with he basics, how will you pay for her food, clothes, medical insurance, school supplies, not to mention countless other things ? A lot of other things are involved with raising a child, especially a teenager, that you just aren't equiped to do, you are still a teenager yourself.
    Who are you to say that she has no business raising a 12 year old especially her own sister? I would hope she's thought of all these things. At least she's trying to get her into a stable situation and not grow up in a drug addled party house.

    I know plenty of 19 year olds who are far more mature than people twice their age. She's obviously more mature than their parents. The 12 year old sounds more mature than her parents even. There are 19 year olds who have their own children who raise them just fine...there's no need to be judgmental toward her.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Can a 19 Year Old Get Custody of a Younger Sibling After Protective Services Remo

    A 19 yr old does not have the experiences in life and the maturity that are needed to raise a 12 yr old, especially with the family background. If the boyfriend leaves, how will she support her finacially ?

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Can a 19 Year Old Get Custody of a Younger Sibling After Protective Services Remo

    Who are you to say that she has no business raising a 12 year old especially her own sister?

    Who are you to say she does?

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Can a 19 Year Old Get Custody of a Younger Sibling After Protective Services Remo

    Quote Quoting cbg
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    Who are you to say that she has no business raising a 12 year old especially her own sister?

    Who are you to say she does?
    I don't know if she does - but no one on here knows if she doesn't. That's not even what was asked.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Can a 19 Year Old Get Custody of a Younger Sibling After a Neglect Investigation

    Quote Quoting ashnay_97
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    My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: Virginia
    As a child, I got adopted by my paternal grandparents. This was due to my parents being on drugs and partying every night while I was at home as a toddler. Now my younger sister is in the same position. Social services has already been called. She has told me that she wants to live with me. My boyfriend and I just moved into our own house, I go to college and have a steady job, and my boyfriend has a full time job. I am 19, my boyfriend is 20, and my younger sister will be 12 in May. I need to know if there would be any way social services would let me have custody of her, or somehow live with me. She is terrified of what is going to happen and I would like to give her a little peace by knowing if there is a chance she could live with us.
    If you were adopted, then that is NOT your younger sister. Unless your grandparents had another child. This would be your niece.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Can a 19 Year Old Get Custody of a Younger Sibling After Protective Services Remo

    Quote Quoting Mercy&Grace
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    A 19 yr old does not have the experiences in life and the maturity that are needed to raise a 12 yr old, especially with the family background. If the boyfriend leaves, how will she support her finacially ?
    How do you know she doesn't have life experience? You don't know what her life has been like. Plenty of 19 year olds are out there who have grown up on their own, on the streets, taking care of younger siblings and so on. Also, where does she say she depends on her boyfriend? She goes to college full time and has a steady job. Sounds like she can take care of herself without her boyfriend.

    What family background? She said her grandparents adopted her when she was a toddler. Sounds like they did a pretty good job raising her if she's holding a job and is a full time college student. That's not an easy feat to pull off.

    There really isn't enough information for you to judge her so harshly. Maybe there's more that would sway my opinion but her question wasn't asking people if they think she's mature enough to get custody of her sister. It was if she could get custody of her sister.

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Can a 19 Year Old Get Custody of a Younger Sibling After Protective Services Remo

    Quote Quoting sparks82
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    Who are you to say that she has no business raising a 12 year old especially her own sister? I would hope she's thought of all these things. At least she's trying to get her into a stable situation and not grow up in a drug addled party house.

    I know plenty of 19 year olds who are far more mature than people twice their age. She's obviously more mature than their parents. The 12 year old sounds more mature than her parents even. There are 19 year olds who have their own children who raise them just fine...there's no need to be judgmental toward her.
    This is not legally her sister. Let's start with that LEGAL fact.

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