[Lynard1210]

Hadley - so shocking they lie!! That was sarcasm! I was not aware that there were any laws mandating judges to go for adoption. In the state where i live, it is common and usual practice for relatives to get legal custody; however, i see your point that the relatives probably don't know know adoption is an option, especially if they have a caseworker who is definitely not looking out for the relatives interest. But their lawyers must be advising them to go legal custody for a reason . . . my best guess would be that getting bio parents to sign consents before the time limits for reunification run is probably not a realistic option. I believe that the time limits allowing parents to reunify are the real problem. It's true that some judges don't hold to the year (allowed in Ohio) specified. They give extensions of time to child services even though they don't really have to. I'm sure there are some judges who stick close to the time lines but from what I have seen pre permanent custody, the relative has two options: legal custody or temporary custody and see if the parents do what they are supposed to do. The two cases i am working on the judge refused to order legal custody - i think they love temporary custody to wait and see what parents do. This is definitely wrong in my opinion. Kids need permanence and adoption is the best kind of permance in almost all situations. It SHOULD be standard practice for relatives to be able to adopt straight from the system (the added benefit being they are a permanent part of their original family which is what we wanted for our daughter). Until you wrote your post, i'd never questioned why they do things the way they do other than the law protects the bio parents rights for longer than they should. Hmmmm . . . obviously there needs to be serious reform.