Legal Guardianship question (rant)?

Question

My cousin isn't stable and CPS became involved almost 4 months ago. My husband and I have had her kids since July. It's gotten to the point with CPS that she's running out of time and options. She has agreed to give us Legal Guardianship (without CPS forcing the issue). The cheapest lawyer I've found so far is $200 per hour and a $1500 retainer. I'm mad that we are agreeing to provide for her kids and this is just another way she is draining us. My husband is the sole breadwinner and we have 4 kids of our own. We do ok, but by no stretch of the imagination are well off. Is there any other way to pursue this where we aren't paying out thousands of dollars to get the right to give the kids stability? We love and want the kids, I just hate that it involves a price tag!

Update:

CPS wants this over. I have no idea on the regulat time-frames but she told me today that her Supervisor wants this finished by the end of the year. Our CPS caseworker told me to start hunting up a lawyer if we still want to get the Guardianship their mother agreed to.

Baaand On The Run! · Accepted Answer

i'm in the same boat.... my husband and i are currently raising my 8yr old cousin because his mom is on drugs but the paper work is killer! we don't qualify for assistance because we aren't on welfare and he's too old/we're too young to qualify for a court affiliated low cost lawyer.... so this is what i'm doing.... my county has a law library and they have probono lawyers that do workshops on certain days of the month to help people like us with paper work. 
most of the hard stuff still falls on us but it's a huge help to have a lawyer go over the paperwork and have them get everything ready to submit to the court. call your courthouse and ask if they have something like this.... i'd assume as long as you're in a fairly large city that they would.

cricketlady · Answer

IF CPS is involved[and that's what I'm hearing] You can not supersede CPS. Save Your money---you can not proceed at this point. There will be another court date soon and the court and cps will have another plan. 

$ months involvement with CPS is Absolutely NOTHING --as far as time goes. It's to be expected 2-4 yrs before a final decision is made. At that point if you're interested an attorney will represent you free---no charge to you.

She has plenty of time and options left. She may decide to get her act together in the next yr or two. In the meantime you hang in there or the kids will go to regular foster care.

Again 4 months is nothing.The usual time in care ranges from 2-4 yrs!!!

Hang in there. You can-NOT take this into your own hands---the court and cps is involved with an open case. It just doesn't work that way.

CarbonDated · Answer

I agree. Go through CPS. They will pay for it and likely provide you with medical care and maybe even a monthly allotment (kinship care).  $200 an hour is actually a reasonable price, but I get it - it all mounts up.  Good of you to place importance on your cousin's children.  My parents had 6 kids when they took on her cousins' 2 kids.  Eventually,  my parents went the extra step and adopted.  The mom has now passed away, but she never was stable.  I know you resent her, but you need to work that your of your system.  It just drains you. She's not worth the effort.

? · Answer

Let CPS force the issue. Seriously they would even have medical insurance. 

You do NOT want to just have guardianship with an unstable relative, she could drag you into court at any time & seek custody again....and cost more money.

LadyCatherine · Answer

why the need for the lawyer if she is willing to do it with out being forced.. ?

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Legal Guardianship question (rant)?

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