Residency: how soon can an unfit mother get her child back?

[girlywhirly]

My friend was granted residency of her 10yo niece in the summer. Her sister wants to take her to court to get the girl back, and is currently manipulating social services to support her in this. The residency order was the result of the mothers' drug and alcohol abuse, neglect, verbal abuse of the child and exposing the child to potential danger by her own sexual promiscuity.

The girl sees her mother at a contact centre (supervised). Since the summer, she has settled at her new home, school work has significantly improved and bedwetting and nightmares reduced.

The judge ruled that she could stay at her new home until she is 16 if she wants to, surely this won't be over-ruled?

it is highly unlikely. mother will have to go through months and months of drug and alcohol testing and as contact is still supervised i very much doubt that she would win. If she does take it back to court your friend will be in court proceedings for a good few months may even be a year!! With all the hype about baby P social services will be very careful in supporting her.

DLI, many thanks for responding. My friend is very worried that she will not be able to afford court costs as she isn't eligible for legal aid, but her sister is. She had to represent herself at the residency hearing.

Obviously, she is worried about the effect all this has on the girl, who wants to stay with her aunts' family, but still loves her mum and wants to be there also. It would be such a shame as she has made great progress in a few months, experiencing a 'normal' family life.