Getting Custody of Nieces

by Alicia from Jamestown, New York

Hi my name is Alicia, I have 2 nieces in Lake City Florida and their mom is in jail right now for stealing over 700 dollars worth of clothing from Walmart. Well they are 2 and 4 both girls and I want to know how I can take them away from their mom.

She has a different man all the time feeds them candy and chips for breakfast the little one is eaten up with fleas , they live in a bad environment.

And Child Protection Service I doubt they'll do anything cause if you look it up it took them years afters of investigation and they left us in a home where we where being abused finally in 98 they took us from our mother.

Now my nieces need help and I want to to take them in please help me , they need a new start and a new home with people that care and love them. Right now they are with my dad. Please let me know what I can do. I'm moving down in August from New York so please don't let that stop you from helping me make a better life for them.

Answer to Florida Child Custody Question

Dear Alicia,

I applaud you for wanting to give your nieces a better life. Florida has a process for Temporary Custody of a Minor Child by an Extended Family Member, under Florida Statute 751.


Although this is a temporary option it might set the ground work for your nieces to have a more permanent home with you.

As I said, Chapter 751 of the Florida Statutes covers temporary child custody...

751.03 Petition for temporary custody; contents.

--Each petition for temporary custody of a minor child must be verified by the petitioner and must contain statements, to the best of petitioner's knowledge and belief, showing:

(8) The consent of the child's parents, or the specific acts or omissions of the parents which demonstrate that the parents have abused, abandoned, or neglected the child as defined in chapter 39;

We have published a page to Temporary Custody by Extended Family Members and recommend you have a look. Remember this is only a temporary solution and you may want to pursue a more permanent solution later on.

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