Legal Guardianship of 12 year old nephew and 14 year old niece

B

brewerk

New Member
Hi,
my husband and I (both US citizens) are the legal guardians of our 12 year old nephew and 14 year old niece. We are currently stationed in Germany and will relocate to the States within the next 12 months. The problem is that we were told that the only way to bring our nephew and niece with us is if we adopt them. We haven't approached the parents on this issue yet because the kids were taken from them by the German State and they are trying to hold on as much as they can. There has to be another way besides adoption, isn't there?
Any information is really appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Karin
 
Sorry, in your situation there is no other way to do it when they are still minors. You have to legally adopt them if you want to bring them to the US to live permanently.

Non-permanent options include getting a student visa for them so they could study in a US high school or junior high (which may have to be private because of restrictions with obtaining a student visa for public schools), but once they graduate they'd have to go back. And before you even get there, you'd have to convince the German government to release them out of the country.
 
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The German state took the kids away from the parents and handed them over to an uncle and aunt? By force?

brewerk said:
We haven't approached the parents on this issue yet because the kids were taken from them by the German State and they are trying to hold on as much as they can.
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Triple Citizen said:
The German state took the kids away from the parents and handed them over to an uncle and aunt? By force?
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What is so unusual about that? In the US if there is evidence of being an abusive or unfit parent, local authorities often will take away the children, and usually the first option is to place them with another relative.
 
You are right it should not be that surprising. In such a case, wouldn't the state also take of any legality with regards to the kids' adoption. What if the aunt and uncle need to relocate, would the state then find another relative?

Jackolantern said:
What is so unusual about that? In the US if there is evidence of being an abusive or unfit parent, local authorities often will take away the children, and usually the first option is to place them with another relative.
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Triple Citizen said:
You are right it should not be that surprising. In such a case, wouldn't the state also take of any legality with regards to the kids' adoption. What if the aunt and uncle need to relocate, would the state then find another relative?
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It often takes long court proceedings to revoke the original parental rights permanently. When the parents are fighting it, that makes it drag out even longer. And depending on what the reason was for taking away the children, the parents or one of the parents may have a chance at getting them back. If the aunt/uncle with custody leaves the country, they'd probably look for another relative if they haven't yet determined that it's safe to give back the children to the parents. And if no relative if is available, the state would take custody and put them in foster care or an orphanage-type situation.
 
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