Chelsmir

I'm 18 years old, and I have a 2 and a half year old daughter names Samara. I live in Ohio. I dropped out of high school last year, and I have been moving around lately. My mom kicked me out when I was 17 because her boyfriend didn't like me. Since then, I've been staying with friends. None of the situations worked out, so I ended up homeless and I had to go stay with my mother.

During this time, my Daughter lived with my mother. She has no custodial rights. I haven't signed any papers saying she has any rights to my child other than being a privileged Grandmother. I didn't want to drag her around with me from home to home looking for a place to live, but I didn't know how to get help from the government.

While I was living with my mother her boyfriend told her she had to choose either him, or me. And she chose him, and they bought be a bus ticket to North Carolina, so I could stay with my grandmother. While I'm down here I'm working on getting a job, my GED, and my license so that I can get my life on track before I got back. So that I can get an apartment and live with my daughter.

Lately I've been hearing things about my daughter's father and his family trying to get custody of Samara. I've been freaking out. I think they're going to try to file abandonment charges against me and take me to court for custody.

They have no other reasons to do so. Samara has been staying with my mother while I figure things out because it was not safe to bring her from home to home with me. I love my daughter with all my heart and if I had a stable place to be I would take her with me. I could have taken her to North Carolina, but I didn't want to take her from her father, or any other family in Ohio that has a part in her life.

Can they take me to court for abandonment? Or am I just worrying. Should I go get her? Because I am a good mother, and they have no reason to tell the court otherwise. She will be safe with me down in NC but I didn't want to hurt the family by taking her from them. Was that a bad choice? If needed, I will go get her and bring her down here with me.

What should I do? Please give me advice..

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WildChild

You are going to have to talk to an attorney. Every state has different laws.

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LanaBear

I agree with WC. Each state is different. Your best bet is to find someone Ohio that knows the laws.

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Sometimes life isn't the party we hoped for, but since we're here, we might as well DANCE!

CHANDLERS WISH

In your heart you did what you thought was best at the time and I believe a Court would clearly see it wasn't "abandonment" rather, you feeling that her father and his family have a right to see her as well and that you didn't want her moving from place to place.

However, whilst you do have to get some advice, I would pick her up and have her with you... You have had her for nearly 3 years and the child will miss her Mother and you her, but also I think it squashes the arguement immediately...

Speak to your Grandma and make sure it's okay with her and see what benefits you may be able to get in finding work, caring for the child etc.

CW

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Do we not realise that in order to find a soul
It doesn't happen over night
if truth were to be told

Like everything in life that's hard to achieve
you must believe!

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