So my ex-husband has been deported for life, and I wanted to know if there’s a way to give the half of custody that he naturally had over my son to my son’s godparents, or at least to my godmother, and then give her husband some kind of guardianship. This way, if something happens, he could take my son to the hospital without needing to contact me right away. I really want to maintain my half of custody but also ensure that my son’s godmother can handle emergencies. They have helped me so much since the day I gave birth to him and have always raised him as their own. My ex is not allowed back in the U.S. and has had no contact with our son since he was four months old. Now my son is eight, and I need advice on how to manage this situation while keeping my custody.
Are you living in the U.S.? You might not fully understand custody laws here. You could have full custody, but if your child’s father had shared custody, you need to revise that. You don’t have to give anyone half custody to keep them in your child’s life.
In emergencies, paramedics won’t ask for consent. They’ll treat your child without needing signatures. You can type up a notarized document that gives your godparents permission to seek medical care.
You could also give a limited power of attorney to your godparents for medical decisions when your child is with them. This way, you keep your custody.
You don’t want to voluntarily provide someone custody rights. You should talk to an estate planning attorney about powers of attorney and your options.
When my kids were little, I had a notarized letter that gave my parents the right to make decisions. I drew it up with a lawyer.
You really need to go back to court to get full physical and legal custody. This way, you won’t need the father’s signature for decisions, which is important since he’s out of the country.
I can’t read such long sentences. But it sounds like you need to figure out your custody situation clearly. Talk to an attorney.
You’re understandably anxious about your child’s future. Talk to a legal aid lawyer about a will, powers of attorney, and letters of permission for your godparents.
You have custody, so you can let your child stay with whoever you want. Just give a notarized letter saying they can make medical decisions if you’re unavailable.
I would never give up custody. You can allow your godparents to take care of your child without transferring legal custody.
I think you should write a detailed will that includes who you want to have custody of your son if anything were to happen to you.
This woman has been around for my son since I had him. She helped me get everything I needed before he was born. I want to find a way for her to have custodial rights that my ex-husband would have had. I feel she is as much a parent as I am.
I know she has my son’s best interest at heart, which is why I want to explore giving her some rights. My ex has been out of his life since he was four months old, and I just want what’s best for my son.
I really think you should talk to a lawyer before making any decisions. Giving away custody could lead to complications down the line.
Just be careful about what rights you give. You want to keep your options open for your child’s future.