Can I adopt or become the legal guardian of my younger siblings?
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Can I adopt or become the legal guardian of my younger siblings?
And if so, is there any financial assistance available? Our father is in a drug rehabilitation center and their mother, who wasn’t in their lives until recently, is having trouble raise them, because now they are getting into trouble. My father used to get government assistance when he had my sisters.
Asked on July 7, 2012 under Family Law, California
Answers:
Cameron Norris, Esq. / Law Office of Gary W. Norris
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Under current California law, a child can only have two parents. So, you cannot adopt the children until one of their parents terminate/sever their parental rights. So, unless your mom or dad have their parental rights taken away by the state or give that up voluntarily, you cannot adopt.
If one or both of them are willing to do that, then you can adopt your siblings. The level of governmental assistance is dependent mostly on whether or not their rights are terminated by a court or if they give them up.
Best of luck.
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