1 / 28

Third-Party Custody

Third-Party Custody. Presenters: Emily K. Cooper and Tracy L. Reid Cooper & Reid, LLC. Where are the children?. Informal - children living with grandparents or other relative households Formal - juvenile proceedings and foster care. Statistics. Children not living with their parents - MN.

bayard
Download Presentation

Third-Party Custody

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Third-Party Custody • Presenters: Emily K. Cooper and Tracy L. Reid • Cooper & Reid, LLC

  2. Where are the children? • Informal - children living with grandparents or other relative households • Formal - juvenile proceedings and foster care

  3. Statistics • Children not living with their parents - MN

  4. Statistics • Racial make-up of third party caregivers

  5. Statistics • 34% of grandparents live in households without the parents present; • 76% of relatives are under the age of 70; • 10% live in poverty

  6. Issues for third-party caregivers • Own child cannot parent • Fear for grandchild • Child support • Coping • Grief, loss, anger, pain, resentment, stress, insecurity

  7. Issues for third-party caregivers • Who to talk to/where to get help • Tired • Parenting doubts • Different world • Stigma • Social isolation

  8. Attitudes towards third-party • Grandparents - “will I be judged because my child can’t parent” • “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”

  9. Third-party custody - MN Law • De facto custodian (257C) • Interested third party (257C) • Delegation of parental rights • Standby custodian (257B) • Custody consent decree (257C.07) • Adoption • Private CHIPS Petition or Foster Care/Juvenile Proceeding • Guardianship

  10. De Facto Custodian • 257C.01, subd 2 • Primary caretaker of child • 24 months immediately preceding petition • Child resided with individual • Without parent present • Lack of demonstrated consistent participation by a parent

  11. De Facto Custodian • Child under 3 years old • 6 months or more • Child 3 years or older • One year or more

  12. De Facto Custodian • Burden of proof - 257C.03, subd 6 • Clear and convincing evidence (of factors in 257C.01, subd 2) • Preponderance of the evidence that is it is in the best interests of child to be in custody of the de facto custodian

  13. Interested Third Party • 257C.01, subd 3 • Person who is not a de facto custodian • Can prove at least one of the factors in Section 257C.03, subd 7, para (a) is met.

  14. Not an interested 3rd party if... • Possession of child is through • Custody consent decree (257C.07) • Court order of voluntary placement (260C-child protection) • Adoption (259)

  15. Interested 3rd-Party • Burden of proof (257C.03, subd 7(a)) • Clear and convincing evidence that • parent has abandoned, neglected, exhibited disregard - child will be harmed by living with parent; or • Physical or emotional danger to the child such that placement with third party takes priority over preserving parent-child relationship; or • Other extraordinary circumstances.

  16. Interested Third-Party • Lewis-Miller v Ross, 710 NW2d 565 • Two step process • 1. Do allegations in petition satisfy criteria of 257C.03, subd 7 (a)? Get an evidentiary hearing. • 2. At evidentiary hearing, party seeking custody must prove best interests by preponderance of the evidence and one of the three child-endangerment factors by clear and convincing evidence.

  17. Procedure • For de facto and interested third-party custody matters • Summons and Petition • Personal Service • Hearing

  18. Delegation of Parental Rights • Minn. Stat. 524.5-211 • Simple form • Up to one year (temporary) • Can be revoked • Does not include consent for adoption or marriage of child

  19. Standby Custodian (257B) • Custodian in event of parent’s incapacity, death, debilitation or consent of parent • Requires notice to (and possibly approval of) other parent, if known • Takes effect upon a “triggering event” • Statute also allows for “temporary custodian” designation for up to 24 months

  20. Custody Consent Decree • Minn. Stat. 257C.07 • Parent can transfer custody to another person • Court can approve if the transfer is in the best interests of child and all parties consent and understand

  21. Adoption • Complete transfer of parental rights and responsibilities.

  22. CHIPS Petitions • Private or commenced by county/state • Usually involves child protection and can involve placement of child in foster care • For 3rd-party caregivers, private CHIPS action or report of concerns about child to social services may be best course of action

  23. CHIPS Petition cont. • Relative caregiver of child can be designated a foster care once social services involved. • Eligible for foster care payments • If relative, eligible for Relative Custody Assistance (RCA funds) • Must accept transfer of permanent legal and physical custody to relative rather than termination of parental rights.

  24. TPLPC advantages • Birth parent does not lose all legal rights • Child support order continues • Birth parent can access information • Birth parent can petition to regain custody • Inheritance through birth family

  25. TPLPC advantages • Relative can obtain TANF (temp. assistance for needy families) grants • Relative custody assistance • Medical assistance for child

  26. Guardianship • Minn. Stat. 524.05-201-211 • Can become guardian through parental appointment, designation as standby guardian through 257B, upon appointment by court or by delegation. • Continues until terminated

  27. Organizations • MN Kinship Caregivers Association • Grandkidsandme • Raising Our Children’s Kids • MN Dept of Human Services

  28. Presenters • Emily K. Cooper - (612) 568-4529 • Tracy L. Reid - (612) 568-5529

More Related