- Jurisdiction
- Iowa
ok so this might get confusing so try to stay with me. I am a godmom to 3 kids, 2 teenage girls (15 and 14) and a boy (8). I'm friends with their mom have been for almost 20yrs. I have been in these kids life since day 1. I was even in the delivery room when the oldest was born. The dad is not in the picture anymore. He was abusive to mom and cheated. She left when the youngest was 3. I have raised these kids like they are my own. I moved from Iowa 3 years ago and that's when the trouble started with the girls. They started getting in trouble with the law but now have somewhat settled down now this past 6months. But, the oldest (15) is now pregnant. She is due at the end of June. Now here is my and her moms problem come in. Baby daddy is very abusive towards my goddaughter. When they found out she was pregnant he beat her trying to get her to have a miscarriage. Her mother and I did not know any of this till she was 4 months along she hid it from us. The baby daddy's mom on the other hand knew all along. She actually knows a lot of whats going on with my goddaughter but continues to let it happen. She will defend her son to the end putting my goddaughter and her unborn baby in danger. My legal question is how much rights does my friend and I (I do have legal guardianship of her also) of keeping the baby daddy and his mom away from my goddaughter and the baby? We are also having trouble with this cause my goddaughter is getting manipulated by the baby daddy's mom. She has turned my goddaughter against me and her mom. Also in Feb my friend sent my goddaughter to live with me in Texas to keep her and baby safe. The baby daddy's mom snuck down here and picked her up a month later. My friend did give consent for my goddaughter to go back home but she did not give her consent to be or go with this lady. This lady did not even take her straight home either. She took my goddaughter down south and for a week longer. Her mother and I didn't even know where she was. Luckily my cousin is friends with this ladies other son and got info from him. We don't know what to do anymore and want to know if we can legally keep these people away from my goddaughter and the baby. And what we can do if they come around or if my goddaughter thinks she can runaway to be with them. My friend wants her to give the baby up because she knows her daughter is not fit to raise this baby and the father of this baby could possibly kill this baby since he has anger issues. I have said I would love to take this baby, I cant have kids of my own and would love to raise this baby especially since it is part of my goddaughter and she is my baby. What legal rights does my friend have over this baby?