my cousin is married and pregnant also on methadone she wants to give us her baby when she has her baby next month dec 2011 we stay in the s...

Question

my cousin is married and pregnant also on methadone she wants to give us her baby when she has her baby next month dec 2011 we stay in the state of missouri what are the procedures of doing that to be the legal gaurdian of that child

Answer

There is a statute that would allow the parents of the child to sign a power of attorney authorizing you to take care of the child for up to one year. Then, before the end of hte year, they could sign another one, and so on for so long as necessary. There is another statute that I have used to have a Court award a child to a third person (not a natural parent of the child) in a case where the parents were unable or unwilling to properly care for the child. Lastly, there are statutes that provide for the judicial establishment of a guardianship of a minor in certain circumstances. I would have to interview you and do some legal research in order to be able to advise you as to your best course of action. The costs could be anywhere from minimal to very expensive.