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Responsibility of Grandparents When Teenagers Have Children
The law in Indiana does not require grandparents to care for their grandchildren -- only their own minor children. This article discusses the implications of current Indiana laws for pregnant teenagers and their parents. Article provided by Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C. www.indianaadoption.com
INDIANAPOLIS, IN, April 03, 2009 /Marriage - Relationships PR News/ -- A teenager who is pregnant faces difficult choices. The people around her, including her parents, may seek to influence her decisions. No matter how strong their opinions, however, her parents typically will not have the right to make choices for her. On the other hand, if the parents disagree with their daughter's decision to have and parent the baby, they are not obligated to provide care for their new grandchild.
Teen Pregnancy in Indiana
When children are born to teenage mothers in Indiana, the state government often pays more for services like health care and foster care, in addition to later costs like welfare and lower tax revenues.
Teen pregnancy is also costly for mothers and children. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, both mother and child can lose opportunities when the mother chooses to raise the baby. Finishing high school is a challenge for many teen mothers; so is attending college and finding adequate employment. A teen mother is more likely to live in poverty and remain unmarried.
Children of teen mothers may suffer emotionally and physically. They are more likely to experience abuse and neglect. The effects of these harms can persist long past infancy and childhood. In fact, statistics compiled by the National Campaign indicate that costs to Indiana taxpayers include $37 million for public health care; $40 million for child welfare; $33 million for incarceration; and $64 million in lost tax revenue due to lower earnings over the children's careers.
Birth Mother's Rights and Responsibilities
Birth mothers, teen or otherwise, generally have the right to raise their children unless they give authorities a reason to remove the children. Indeed, some teenage mothers are nurturing, successful parents.
A pregnant teenager has several choices, including seeking an abortion; having the baby and raising it herself; or having the baby and creating an adoption plan for the child. Deciding to raise the child herself may be an attractive option for the mother. She must be aware, however, of the limitations imposed by her age and circumstances.
If the teenager wishes to seek an adoptive family for the child, she can choose how to proceed with the adoption, including whether she wants an open adoption. The details of open adoption vary depending upon the participants, but typically the adoptive family will keep the birth mother informed of the child's progress and well-being.
Grandparents' Rights and Responsibilities
Many teens turn to their parents in times of crisis. While parents have a legal duty to take care of their minor children, they do not have the same duty to their children's children.
A pregnant teenager may wish to live with her parents after she gives birth, perhaps expecting the new grandparents to care for her child. Some grandparents will welcome an infant into their homes, but others -- who are planning for retirement or living on fixed incomes -- will not want to start raising a child all over again.
The birth mother whose parents do not plan to participate in raising their grandchild may protest that her parents must help because she is their child. Although she may feel that her parents are obligated to help her care for her new baby, they are not. The law in Indiana does not require grandparents to care for their grandchildren -- only their own minor children.
Along with limited responsibility, comes limited rights, however. Grandparents cannot force their daughter to make a specific choice. But they can speak with her about the influence of a baby on the mother's present and future, in addition to the difficulties that children of teens face.
While the prospective grandparents may be delighted to have grandchildren at a later date, they also may decline to be the main caretakers of an infant now. Many families find that adoption is a satisfying solution, allowing them to be assured that the child will have a loving and secure home, while permitting mother and grandparents to follow through on their goals.
Weighing the Options
Knowing that her parents will not provide significant support for her child, a pregnant teenager must be honest with herself about what she can and cannot do. It may be possible that she can provide a loving, secure, nurturing home for her child. It is also possible that adoption is a better choice for both mother and child.
Kirsh & Kirsh
At Kirsh & Kirsh, we have more than twenty years of experience finding good homes for children. In that time, we have discovered that adoption law is one of the few legal areas where everyone wins. Prospective Birth Mothers are heroes to Prospective Adoptive Parents, and we are proud to have the opportunity to unite birth mothers with adoptive families.
In an average year, we help approximately 125 couples realize their dreams of starting a family through adoption. We have handled the adoption of over 2500 children from every state and are dedicated to meeting the needs of birth parents and adoptive parents. Please visit our website http://www.indianaadoption.com for more information.
Article provided by Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C. www.indianaadoption.com
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Press Release Contact Information:
Steve Kirsh
Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C.
Adoption Attorney
2930 East 96th Street
Indianapolis, IN
United States 46240
Voice: (866) 469-9200
Fax: (317) 575-5631
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