becoming a legal guardian??

[widget1979]

My sister is 5 months pregnant and she does not want to raise the child as the father is very abusive. She has told him that she has had an abortion, but wants me and my partner to bring this baby up as our own. Is there any way we can do this without going thru the courts?

[bednobs]

i would definately seek legal advice.
Im a bit confused by your question though .... if he thinks shes had an abortion, then surely theu arent together, or he would see her 5 month bump? If they are not together, why can she not raise the child on her own? Even if you became the legal gardian it would not stop him having rights as the father, so i cant see it would protect the child any more
you say the legal gardianship is because the father is abusive, but i cant really see how you being gardian will help that? unless you live on an unaccessible island or something. Soryy not to be of any help, but i would think you would have to at least apply through the courts, if only to give the father a chance to contest, and to protect yourselves if your sister changes her mind after , say 5 months

[widget1979]

she is barely showing at the moment, she just looks slightly overweight. They are issues why she cant raise the child on her own, and i live over 100 miles away, somewhere he doesnt know. He has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with the baby. I think the courts are the way to go but was just wondering if we can do it without the courts

[bednobs]

you could have an informal arrangement i suppose, but there would be no protection of either side, and you wouldnt be able to do anything for the child legally (sign their school notes, consent to medical treatment/injections, take them on holiday, open a bank account)
is the father so stupid that he wont notice when a baby pops out? Or when she has a baby shaped lump in her abdomen? Why dosent she leave him, come and live with you and bring the baby up with your help? Anyway, i know thats none of my business so yiu dont have to answer! There is obviously a lot more to this that you dont need/want to disclose