What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? ARKANSAS !My daughter and her husband have an adorable and very precious daughter that will be 2 years old in a couple of weeks. The kids (the husband and wife), as do ALL young couples I know of, argue occasionally-and quite understandably so in these trying, struggling, economically depressed times they are today subjected to.
During one of their arguments (or word exchanges) my son-in-laws parents arrived at the home of the kids, volunteering to take the baby to their home for the night (this was something those grandparents as well as my wife and myself did, we couldn't wait for our turn to have that Granddaughter over for the night. While my son-in-laws parents were there, and in the middle of the kids' arguing the mother coerced the kids into signing a paper that a local attorney in a town of around 6,000 people had drawn up for her, giving her husband and herself guardianship rights. Stating to them that the police would soon be there and "TAKE" the child, diabling ANY of us from getting her back. The kids were under the distinct impression that it was simply an overnight thing, they both trusted his parents infinitely-why wouldn't they, they were his parents from birth-the two primary people he trusted above and beyond anyone else on this planet-as it SHOULD be in a relationship of parent and child.
The next day they learned that her (the son-in-laws mother) intentions were far less than honorable as she told them they signed a legal document. And they learned too, that she had begun this "Take-Over" over a month prior to the day she actually acted upon it. Totally without notice or the kids' knowledge a judge acted solely upon whatever the mother might have said and issued an order directing guardianship to the other Grandparents
The kids now see their only child only a few times weekly. My wife and myself went from seeing her almost daily to now about once a week-sometimes less. That little girl is the light and joy in the lives of 4 people that love her endlessly. Then suddenly-for absolutely NO reason known to anyone, she is removed from our lives.
My wife and I miss this child immensely. However, NOTHING can compare to how broken hearted the kids are distraught over the entire matter that it is difficult for either of them to function in a normal manner. Last week they had the child for a couple of days and the parents were totally ecstatic. The baby, upon first arriving, was not her talkative, happy, joyous self-but after a very short few minutes they were the happiest family of 3 I believe I have ever seen.
Those 3 need to be re-united in the worst way. The entire issue at hand was meaningless, senseless and totally uncalled for. This family MUST get back together, as you can see it troubles the baby terribly when it's time to depart from her birth parents. And it's as though the world ends for the kids each time the goodbye's are called for. It is a pitiful shame.
My QUESTIONS are as follows;
Within the color of law, how can someone "SECRETLY" gain guardianship of a child from her BIRTH parents ONLY on what this single individual had told an attorney and possibly a judge?
And under the circumstances where such a major action would take place in a court of law, would the parents have to be notified in some form or another that such an action was being processed against them? Or can anyone in or within a family structure take such action against another completely and totally WITHOUT their having any knowledge what-so-ever of this action?
Isn't it also required that such a proceeding within the Probate Division of the Circuit Court be made public notice in a newspaper for X amount of inserts or days?
And in our society today, how TRULY secure are we-are our lives-in this nation that such an incident can occur-that another family member can literally TAKE your child, walk away and inform you that THEY are taking over custody? Is it a true Democratic society that allows such communistic actions take place within it's borders? Should everyone that has a disagreement with their legal spouse be concerned that a family member will TAKE their child or children?
I am very aware that Arkansas is somewhat behind times, but, could the states judicial system be THAT far behind the rest of the country?
I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, input, advice, a resolution directive, or anything else that might assist us in this tragic matter.
Thank you very much.
Respectfully and Sincerely, A Broken-hearted Grandfather !!!
During one of their arguments (or word exchanges) my son-in-laws parents arrived at the home of the kids, volunteering to take the baby to their home for the night (this was something those grandparents as well as my wife and myself did, we couldn't wait for our turn to have that Granddaughter over for the night. While my son-in-laws parents were there, and in the middle of the kids' arguing the mother coerced the kids into signing a paper that a local attorney in a town of around 6,000 people had drawn up for her, giving her husband and herself guardianship rights. Stating to them that the police would soon be there and "TAKE" the child, diabling ANY of us from getting her back. The kids were under the distinct impression that it was simply an overnight thing, they both trusted his parents infinitely-why wouldn't they, they were his parents from birth-the two primary people he trusted above and beyond anyone else on this planet-as it SHOULD be in a relationship of parent and child.
The next day they learned that her (the son-in-laws mother) intentions were far less than honorable as she told them they signed a legal document. And they learned too, that she had begun this "Take-Over" over a month prior to the day she actually acted upon it. Totally without notice or the kids' knowledge a judge acted solely upon whatever the mother might have said and issued an order directing guardianship to the other Grandparents
The kids now see their only child only a few times weekly. My wife and myself went from seeing her almost daily to now about once a week-sometimes less. That little girl is the light and joy in the lives of 4 people that love her endlessly. Then suddenly-for absolutely NO reason known to anyone, she is removed from our lives.
My wife and I miss this child immensely. However, NOTHING can compare to how broken hearted the kids are distraught over the entire matter that it is difficult for either of them to function in a normal manner. Last week they had the child for a couple of days and the parents were totally ecstatic. The baby, upon first arriving, was not her talkative, happy, joyous self-but after a very short few minutes they were the happiest family of 3 I believe I have ever seen.
Those 3 need to be re-united in the worst way. The entire issue at hand was meaningless, senseless and totally uncalled for. This family MUST get back together, as you can see it troubles the baby terribly when it's time to depart from her birth parents. And it's as though the world ends for the kids each time the goodbye's are called for. It is a pitiful shame.
My QUESTIONS are as follows;
Within the color of law, how can someone "SECRETLY" gain guardianship of a child from her BIRTH parents ONLY on what this single individual had told an attorney and possibly a judge?
And under the circumstances where such a major action would take place in a court of law, would the parents have to be notified in some form or another that such an action was being processed against them? Or can anyone in or within a family structure take such action against another completely and totally WITHOUT their having any knowledge what-so-ever of this action?
Isn't it also required that such a proceeding within the Probate Division of the Circuit Court be made public notice in a newspaper for X amount of inserts or days?
And in our society today, how TRULY secure are we-are our lives-in this nation that such an incident can occur-that another family member can literally TAKE your child, walk away and inform you that THEY are taking over custody? Is it a true Democratic society that allows such communistic actions take place within it's borders? Should everyone that has a disagreement with their legal spouse be concerned that a family member will TAKE their child or children?
I am very aware that Arkansas is somewhat behind times, but, could the states judicial system be THAT far behind the rest of the country?
I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, input, advice, a resolution directive, or anything else that might assist us in this tragic matter.
Thank you very much.
Respectfully and Sincerely, A Broken-hearted Grandfather !!!
