Legal Question in Juvenile Dependency in California

Does a relative caretaker have the right to be represented in court and fight fo

My daughter has lost her parental rights on 4 children do to drug abuse. I have adopted 2 of them. 17 mo. ago they took the 5th. They asked me to care for and would I want to adopt the child if my daughter lost her parental rights again. Superior Court denied reunification, my daughter appealed and won so reunification was given. Since she won her appeal she has been arrested for drugs twice. I know my own daughter!!!Her drugs are more important, but when she is in the mood to do good for awhile she does and keeps getting more chances???WHY. I have now had my 5th grandchild longer than my daughter did. My grandchild deserves a stable home with siblings .Do I have a chance? Do I need defacto Parental status. Please help.


Asked on 5/16/01, 7:49 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Daniel Rooney D. G. Rooney, Attorney At Law

Re: Does a relative caretaker have the right to be represented in court and figh

The short answer is that a relative does NOT have the right to be represented in Dependency Court. It is very unlikely that a Court would grant your daughter further reunification time; in all likelihood you will be your 5th grandchild's permanent caretaker. As the long time caretaker of this child and 2 other's apparently still before the Court, the court would likely grant your request for the appointment of an attorney to seek de parent facto status and legal representation.

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Answered on 7/06/01, 5:41 pm


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