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Whether or not it is legal, I have a very hard time believing that a judge is going to let a just turned 18 year old adopt an 8 year old. Kin or not. Technically legal or not. It is going to be even harder considering 1) She hasn't been living with you (this speaks to the emotional situation of you becoming a mom, her moving in with you, the finances, etc). 2) You aren't married. And even if you were, marriages between young people have the highest divorce rate. 3) You have a part-time job, and no established career path. 4) She has parents and an aunt in the house now. 5) If things are so unfit for her, then they would consider foster care (maybe for all of them) and if they aren't, she wouldn't need her 18 year old cousin to adopt her.
And this is coming from another young mom. Imagine how a 40-something judge will see it.
I agree with the previous poster. If you really want to do something, your real option is getting CUSTODY, not adopting. Alternatively, a big brother/big sister and you together might also give her plenty of time to be a kid outside the house, which is another thing you could look in to.
I am not trying to be mean. I've been dealing with the courts for years. And I can tell you it is most likely a very, very remote possibility that adoption is a viable option at this point in time. I hope you can find another suitable answer, because you are right that it is very sad when a child is robbed of her childhood.
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