EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Teen Mom Amber Portwood's Baby Now A Ward Of The State
Posted on Nov 24, 2010 @ 11:00AM
Teen Mom star Amber Portwood's daughter is now a ward of the state of Indiana, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.
It's a dramatic development in the ongoing saga of the MTV star, whose troubled life has played out on national TV.
Portwood and Gary Shirley appeared in an Anderson, Indiana courthouse Tuesday afternoon for an emergency child placement hearing concerning their two-year-old daughter Leah.
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The 20-year-old mother of one and her baby's father were at the Madison County Circuit Court for a 2:30pm closed hearing regarding placement of their child.
One source told RadarOnline.com: "Leah is a ward of the state."
That means that as the Department of Child Services assesses Leah's living situation the child technically becomes a ward of the state, even though she is currently staying with Shirley.
A ward of the state is an adult or child whose guardianship is determined by a judge who appoints a government agency to oversee the ward of the state's affairs.
RadarOnline.com also learned that the Indiana Department of Child Services supervised Portwood's visit with Leah at Gary's house on Tuesday after court.
Watch our exclusive video here.
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Following the short hearing, DCS escorted Portwood to Shirley's home so she could have a one-hour visitation with Leah.
Shirley and Portwood declined to answer questions outside of court after the Tuesday hearing.
One source, who was at the courthouse, told RadarOnline.com that Gary and Amber appeared extremely friendly toward each other.
DCS will monitor Amber's progress and also determine if Gary's home is suitable for Leah to remain in permanently.
Amber can still fight for custody.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, DCS has placed a six-month monitoring period on Portwood, in the wake of her televised assault on Shirley that aired on MTV while her daughter Leah was present, resulting in domestic violence charges from the police.
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DCS has been probing Leah's living situation at Shirley's house and asked for certain changes that Shirley will comply with, one source told RadarOnline.com.
Under Indiana law, if a child is found to be a "child in need of services" (CHINS) the child then becomes a ward of the state. A hearing is usually held within 48 hours where DCS looks for placement for the child, generally with a family member.
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Portwood gave Leah to Shirley recently, believing the toddler would be better off with him right now.
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The Daily Juice
They both seem unstable and scary. Protect the baby girl from these two!
Posted Fri, 11/26/2010 - 11:33am
OMG look at her! As if she has a reason to be ignorant! U DID IT AMBER. GROW UP u lunatic!!!
GARY-r u as crazy as she is? Seriouslyget it together for LEAH. Letting Amber lean on u? HELLO ur there becuz of her! So sick!
Posted Wed, 11/24/2010 - 9:28pm
Way to go Amber, this is all your fault & you deserve every second of it for putting your hands on Gary. Gary, looking good, like you lost weight, keep it up and please dont get back with Amber for Leah's sake. Just be a good dad.
Posted Wed, 11/24/2010 - 2:26pm
HAHAHAHAAAA...your kid will be pregnant and on Heroin by the age of 12
Posted Wed, 11/24/2010 - 1:46pm
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Like: Louis **** **** Gucci **** Chloe **** Prada **** etc.
Posted Wed, 11/24/2010 - 1:17pm
My fear is that Gary will teach Leah 2 b liek him & he is abit unstable himself. Altho def the better parent, he has issues too. Amber should hang her head in shame, its disgusting. But she wont, she'll go have a drink or pop a pill...pathetic!
Posted Wed, 11/24/2010 - 9:18am
THANK GOD!!!! Now if they can make it stick. Altho I believe Gary is the better parent, he also needs help...hes enabled Amber & has too much low self esteem. Amber needs a lifetime of therapy & Leah needs stability & to be safe.!
Posted Wed, 11/24/2010 - 9:16am
Goodnight to all (or the few LOL here LOL). Blessed are those who have friends. Namaste
Posted Wed, 11/24/2010 - 1:19am
It's a d*mn shame the officials in Pennsylvania didn't have the go nads to rescue the Gosselin children from the abuse they live under.
Posted Tue, 11/23/2010 - 10:35pm
Gary and Amber need (if they have not already had) an emergency intervention. Obviously, their parents are not /have not been supportive (i do not mean $ wise) or helpful in figuring out how to be GOOD parents - not an egg and sperm.
Posted Wed, 11/24/2010 - 1:09am