SHOULD YOU NEED ASSISTANCE

While I address this to grandparents, the advice would still hold true for aunts, uncles and cousins of adult children who have abandoned or abused nieces, nephews and cousins. 

If you are a grandparent who is considering acquiring custody/ guardianship of or adopting your grandchildren:
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2008/11/somebody-else-makes-you-grandparent.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2008/11/fallacies-and-just-plain-myths.html 
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2008/12/are-you-in-it-for-long-haul.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2008/12/courage-and-hypocrites.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011/05/good-book-but-not-for-mothers-day.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012_06_01_archive.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/06/myths-and-well-meaning.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/07/question-and-answer-time-relationship.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/07/question-and-answer-time-debt.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/07/question-and-answer-time.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/08/howd-we-get-here.html

If you are a grandparent who isn't sure but has suspicions that your grandchildren might be in need of assistance because your adult child is either abusing or neglecting them:
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2008/11/fallacies-and-just-plain-myths.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2008/12/are-you-in-it-for-long-haul.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2008/12/abandonment-talk-to-you-later-kids-much.html 
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2008/12/neglect-where-thing-get-fuzzy-in-more.html 
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2008/12/courage-and-hypocrites.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/03/shameless-and-face-of-bipolar-how-it.html

If you are a grandparent whose adult child disappeared, leaving you with the kids:
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/02/proceeding-without-evidence-key-or-clue.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/02/update-on-naomis-lulabelle.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/05/update-on-naomi.html

If you are a grandparent who is being bullied by an adult child, including using the grandchildren as pawns to get you to cooperate with the demands of the adult child in question:
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2008/12/post-i-do-things-ever-change.html 
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/01/enabling-grandparents-case-in-point.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/02/part-i-whose-fault-is-it-fear.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/02/part-ii-fear-intimidation-or-bully.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/02/part-iii-fear-intimidation-stopping.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/03/truth-not-altered-version.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/05/generalized.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012_06_01_archive.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/06/your-abusers-reaction-is-not-reality.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/07/credit-where-credit-is-due-part-1.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/07/credit-where-credit-is-due-part-2.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/07/credit-where-credit-is-due-part-3.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/07/credit-where-credit-is-due-part-4-id.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/07/credit-where-credit-is-due-part-5-skip.html

If you are a grandparent who is unsure how to hire an attorney:
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011/03/in-praise-of-legal-profession.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011/11/where-theres-will.html

If you are a grandparent who wants to acquire custody/ guardianship, or wants to adopt your grandchildren, but you aren't sure how you can afford it:
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/01/happy-new-year-lets-stretch-your-cash.html  
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/01/stretching-budget-some-more-obtaining.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/01/food-stamps-ebt-card-if-you-got-em-use.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/01/tax-returns-grandparents-yes-now-i-am.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/06/613-vacation-why.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/06/613-vacation-getting-to-yes.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/06/613-vacation-it-can-be-done-cheaper.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/06/613-vacation-1-3d-movie.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2009/07/613-vacation-2-fun-center.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011/04/not-extreme-couponing-part-i.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011/04/not-extreme-couponing-part-ii.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011/04/not-extreme-couponing-part-iii.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011/04/not-extreme-couponing-part-iv-bargain.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011/07/recycling-old-recession.html 
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011/12/giving-season-to-yourself-others.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/01/frugalities-frugalities.html
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2012/07/question-and-answer-time-goverment.html

If you have been threatened with "Indian court" in relationship to your continued guardianship or your adoption of your grandchildren:
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011/10/are-you-sure-youre-enough-part-native.html

If you are a grandparent who has to deal with visitation of the children by your adult child:
http://retreadparent.blogspot.com/2011/11/survival-of-strongest-visitation.html