my husband and I just got custody of his 14 month old daughter the biological mothers rights were terminated and the judge in her order stated that his daughter was to be given to us and she said both of our names, (custody is given to sammy and faye howard). if something was to happen and we didn’t want to be together anymore would i have any rights at all to her. i havent adopted her, but she does call me mommy and i take care of her as if she was mine.
I am having trouble understanding why the judge issued the order this way as you do not have legal rights to the child unless and until you adopt her. Now that the mother’s rights have been terminated you should be able to begin that process.