How to Give Up Parental Rights to an Adopted Child?

Question by ”Camera~Ready”: How to give up parental rights to an adopted child?
Here’s the thing, my parents adopted my little brother about 8yrs ago, he was placed with us as a kid because my mom was a foster parent. He is now 17 1/2 yrs old. He was aloud by the courts to see his biological mom while growing up (when she wasn’t in jail or rehab) but at one point the courts got tired of his mother going in & out of jail & rehab so they permanently took her parental rights. So the court was going to put him in a group home but he was so much a part of our family that my parents decided to adopt him.

About a year & a half ago he found his biological mom online, contacted her & left to live with her. His social worker told my mom it was best to let him go if he wanted to because she couldn’t stop him & he would probably just run away. A year later the courts file charges against my parents for abandonment. My little brother finally told the truth about what happened & charges were dropped. Well surprise to us when we brought him home 7 months ago he came back with a meth problem, he started using with his biological mom. But now my parents are stuck, he leaves for days at a time comes back all strung out, Tries to break into the house when were not home, threatens the little kids. He has committed felony, after felony, after felony but the police refuse to make reports, they say it’s a waste of time because he’s almost 18. The courts tell my parents they can’t give up rights because they adopted him. Also, that he would have to live with us until everything goes through anyway & that would take several months & he’ll be 18 by then so it’s not an option.

We love him but we fear for our lives, it’s like my little brother has no conscience. When he came back an addict I use to stay up all night watching him, fearing he would light the house on fire while we slept. We never leave my mom alone because we’re afraid he’ll kill her. It’s like the courts are playing “You touch him last”. He’s been in Juvenal Hall this passed week for drug possession, but since no else ever made a report or pressed charges for everything else he’s done, my parents are now forced to bring him home this Friday. This drug addict, to a house full of little kids. We tried to help him several times but he refuse treatment. The courts & social workers are aware of everything but basically say it’s my parents problem.Ugh!! We don’t know what to do?

Sorry I know this is long but, can anyone tell us our options. How do can we get some help? How can my parents give up their rights when the courts refuse to do so? By the way we live In San Bernardino County California, if it makes a difference. Thanx everyone!
My parents are not trying to give him to the state simply because he is adopted they have raised 7 other kids & we’re not all biological. They are trying to give up rights before he turns 18 so that the state can force him to get help since he ran away from the other facilities he was in & refuses all the other treatments & things they’ve tried. The state doesn’t care about my brother, they see him as just another troubled kid & could care less. We however love him & my parents love him enough to do what is best for him not what’s easiest for them, even if they must let him go. And you can give up rights to your children, an acquaintance of my sisters gave up her daughter because she felt she couldn’t take care of her but, the state told my parents that it’s different when they adopt a child so that’s why I was asking.
My parents are not trying to give him to the state simply because he is adopted they have raised 7 other kids & we’re not all biological. They are trying to give up rights before he turns 18 so that the state can force him to get help since he ran away from the other facilities he was in & refuses all the other treatments & things they’ve tried. The state doesn’t care about my brother, they see him as just another troubled kid & could care less. We however love him & my parents love him enough to do what is best for him not what’s easiest for them, even if they must let him go. And you can give up rights to your children, an acquaintance of my sisters gave up her daughter because she felt she couldn’t take care of her but, the state told my parents that it’s different when they adopt a child so that’s why I was asking.

Best answer:

Answer by George
They cant give up parental rights they must continue being his legal parents for the next 6 months until he turns 18 years old…

However since they are his legal parents and he is still a minor child then they do have the option of placing him into an inpatient drug treatment program whether he wants to go or not by having him committed by court order.

Also since the use of Meth is illegal then anytime he comes home under the influence of Meth the police can be called and since there are other children in the home the parents can claim that he is a danger to himself and others.

Also under California law a minor is considered incorrigible when the minor repeatedly or habitually disobeys the direction of the minor’s lawful parents, guardians, or legal custodians and that can be brought to the attention of the District Attorney and handled in Juvenile court.

Answer by wendy c
When a child is ADOPTED, he becomes the child of the parents.. including all the issues. By law, he is no different than any bio child.
There are kids like this with that kind of problem, who are not adopted. The parents have responsibility until the child is 18, unless he is taken by the state.
You cannot “give up” rights to a bio child or adopted.

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