Illegal Adoption Grandparent Rights

Summary

The user, a grandmother, believes her grandchildren were illegally adopted out without her being notified. The adoption took place in Missouri and Iowa. The users son, the biological parent, was allegedly pressured into signing away his parental rights without legal representation or advice. The user attempted to gain custody before the adoption but was unsuccessful due to the complexity of interstate laws. She is now seeking legal assistance to reverse the adoption and regain custody of her grandchildren. The user resides in Kentucky and has reached out to legal aid organizations for help but was asked for money before they would assist.

Full Conversation

I believe my grandbabies have been adopted out illegally
Can you provide more details about why you believe the adoption was illegal?
I was never notified of them even being placed in foster care now they’ve been adopted. I fought for custody by myself no one would help me. Because of state to state. I had lil sky from the day he was born took him to Iowa so his other GMA could see him. She was supposed to bring him back in * weeks I’ve never seen him since but once while I was fighting for them. Since then I have been blocked from having contact. So much more to be said about this.they forced my son into signing papers etc.
What state did the adoption take place in? This is important as adoption laws vary from state to state.
Missouri and Iowa
What is the current residence of the adoptive parents? This will help determine which state's laws apply.
I’M not sure bout Missouri the town is Oregon, in Iowa the adopoted parents are Evert n Brittney Colunga from Missouri valley
What is the current legal status of your son, the biological parent of the children?
not sure what you mean
Is your son legally recognized as the father of the children and does he have any parental rights?
That is what’s messed up I’m not sure what’s happened they made both of them sign their rights away she wanted to he didn’t n I’m not sure if blood test or whatever was done
Did your son have legal representation when he was asked to sign away his rights?
I don’t believe so
Did your son receive any legal advice before signing the papers? It's important to know as signing away parental rights without proper legal advice can have serious implications.
not that I’m aware of
Did your son sign the papers under duress or was he coerced into signing them?
he was pressured
What specific actions were taken to pressure your son into signing the papers?
words
What were the exact words or actions used to pressure your son into signing the papers?
i don’t know I wasn’t their
What is the age of your grandkids when they were adopted? This can help determine if their consent was required for the adoption.
* and under
What is the current age of your grandkids?
* * *
What steps have you taken so far to address this issue?
I tried to get custody before they were adopted. I’m now trying to find someone to help me in this
What steps did you take to try and get custody before the adoption?

In general, grandparents have rights to petition for custody or visitation in both Missouri and Iowa. However, these rights are typically considered only after the rights of the parents have been exhausted.
calling lawyers dhs, drove back n forth from Iowa to Kentucky. Cooperating with dhs.and foster parents.
What was the response from the lawyers and DHS when you reached out to them for help?
no lawyer would help me because it was from state to state. I had same dhs lady that was helping the foster parents. It’s all not right
What was the reason given by the lawyers for not being able to help you due to the case being from state to state?

In general, interstate adoption cases can be complex due to the involvement of different state laws.
that was it state to state. They said I would have to be in that state wished me good luck I was gonna need it.
What steps have you taken since the adoption was finalized?

In general, reversing an adoption is difficult and requires proving that the adoption was illegal or fraudulent.
what I’m doing now. Seeking help
What specific help are you seeking now? Are you looking to reverse the adoption or seeking visitation rights?
reverse. For someone to pull the records on my * grandbabies. Look at the foster care n adoption records for anything out of order.
What evidence do you have that suggests the adoption process was not conducted legally?
I don’t have any evidence. It’s that gut feeling things are not right
What steps have you taken to gather evidence or information about the adoption process?
I’ve searched the adopted parents. That’s just it I don’t know what to do or where to go
What specific information were you able to find about the adoptive parents?
family address jobs seen pictures
What actions did the adoptive parents take that made you suspicious of the legality of the adoption process?
pits not just them it’s the way the whole situation is being handled
What specific actions or events made you feel that the situation was not handled properly?
I was not contacted I’ve since been blocked from contacting them. Not being able to video chat. Telina the other GMA has every right to see n visit which she shows n tells the real parents every thing
What steps have you taken to assert your rights as a grandparent for visitation or custody in the state of Missouri or Iowa?
your asking me the same questions
I apologize if it seems repetitive. To clarify, have you formally filed a petition for grandparent visitation rights in either Missouri or Iowa courts?
no
Have you considered seeking legal representation to help you navigate this complex situation and potentially file a petition for grandparent visitation rights?
thats what I’m do
What specific legal assistance are you seeking? Are you looking for a lawyer to represent you or just legal advice on how to proceed?
To get my grandbabies back their with complete strangers
What steps have you taken to gather evidence or information about the adoption process?

In general, reversing an adoption is difficult and requires proving that the adoption was illegal or fraudulent. It's important to gather as much evidence as possible.
thats why I’m trying to find someone to help me. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR WHAT I CAN DO
What specific actions or events made you feel that the adoption process was not conducted legally?
I already told you
What steps have you taken to assert your rights as a grandparent for visitation or custody in the state of Missouri or Iowa?
why are you asking the same questions over again. I’m done with this discussion I’ll continue to search for help
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Have you considered contacting a legal aid organization in your state for assistance? They might be able to provide free or low-cost legal help.
yes already have
What was the response from the legal aid organization when you contacted them?
it’s suppose to be free they were wanting money before they would help
I'm sorry to hear that. Have you tried reaching out to other legal aid organizations? Some may offer pro bono services.
yes yes yes I’ve done everything I know to do
What was the response from the other legal aid organizations you reached out to?
i told you damm it they wanted money before they would help
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Have you tried reaching out to law schools in your area? They often have legal clinics that provide free legal services.
can you help me or not
I'm here to provide legal information. Could you please tell me which state you're currently residing in? This will help me provide more accurate information.
kentucky
What steps have you taken in Kentucky to address this issue? In general, you may want to consult with a Kentucky-based attorney who specializes in family law or adoption cases.