[joskids]

My friend who resides in Michigan is the uncle of a 5 year old girl. His sister, the child's mother, died suddenly this week and left no will. The mother and child reside(d) in Texas. My friend is the only relative able to take this child. She has a birthfather listed on her birth certificate but he has not seen her (or provided for her) since the day she was born. When her mother died, this child was left in the home with her deceased mother for 2 days before her mother's ex-husband found the two of them. The ex-husband is NOT the father of this child but has gone to court and filed guardianship papers. My friend is now down in Texas (from Michigan) and needs some help to go down to the court in Houston to try to get guardianship of the child. Obviously, being that the child has a birthfather on the birth certificate, he will have to be contacted. It appears that the ex-husband of the deceased woman owns a business with her and it's looking like he may feel that if he has custody of the child he would also have control of the entire business (because her mother's portion of the business would go to the child). ANYWAY, I need the name of a good attorney in Houston, TX or someone on the boards here who knows Texas law and what should be done. My friend doesn't have any extra funds down in Texas right now to do much. He can't even bury his sister because her ex-husband ceased all of her records, etc. It's almost too ridiculous to even believe it happened. He made it sound like he could keep the child for a couple of days until her uncle got down there to pick her up and now he is not allowing the uncle (the only living relative in the mother's side of the family) to take temporary custody of her until a court case can proceed. ANYBODY -- PLEASE HELP!!!

[feelingreyt]

Oh I am so so so sorry for this child.
I have no help to offer. I wish I did. My heart hurts for her.
I pray God protects her and gives her comfort.

[txwannabemom]

The Law Office of
Donald E. Robinowitz
4151 Southwest Freeway
Suite 350
Houston, TX 77027
Phone: 713.622.6676

I have not used them, but a close friend has and LOVED them.

[joskids]

Thanks, "Txwannabe". I've relayed the information to my friend. This is such an unbelievable situation and so sad for the child.