Why Gary Shirley’s Lawyer Believes Amber Portwood ‘Deserted’ Leah

On Thursday’s episode of Teen Mother: The Subsequent Chapter, Gary met with a lawyer to debate the potential of Leah getting adopted by his spouse, Kristina, after his daughter expressed how she needs to be adopted by her stepmom amid her estrangement from Amber.

And in line with the lawyer, they’ve “actually a great case for adoption.”

Earlier than Gary and Kristina went to go to the lawyer, Trina Saunders, Gary shared his ideas and considerations in a confessional.

“With the potential of Kristina adopting Leah, I am completely on board. It is not as simple as signing a test or snapping your fingers; there’s lots concerned,” mentioned Gary, who was granted full custody of Leah in 2011.

“Now we have to go to courtroom. That places lots of stress on her,” he continued. “After which, what if her mother simply rapidly begins to take her, you already know? It is a pressure on me. It is a pressure on poor Leah. I am not right here to harm Amber, however she should not be right here to harm Leah, both.”

“Someone’s gonna get damage,” Gary added. “And the individual [who’s] hurting essentially the most proper now could be Leah. I am ensuring my child does not undergo.”

Whereas it was already recognized to viewers that Amber and Leah have been estranged, Gary advised the lawyer that Amber has solely seen Leah “4 days” within the “previous yr.”

When Saunders requested about little one assist, Gary mentioned that it isn’t “enforced by means of the courtroom,” and claimed Amber is “behind” on funds.

And in line with Saunders, within the courtroom’s eyes, Amber’s absence in Leah’s life is taken into account “abandonment.”

“As a result of she’s not had any vital contact along with her mom during the last six months, that is deemed as abandonment,” the lawyer advised Gary and Kristina.

“I feel that adoption can be the best choice, as a result of in an adoption that severs that parent-child relationship that she has along with her mom, and you’ll grow to be her mom, and also you additionally can be positioned on the start certificates as her mom,” Saunders mentioned to Kristina.

“But when we are able to present that [Amber’s] deserted her daughter, then we do not want her mother’s consent,” she added.

Whereas Gary admitted that he thinks Amber would “contest” the adoption, Saunders famous that she believes that if it went to courtroom, they’d “have the ability to present” that Amber has “not been” in Leah’s life, “she’s not supplied for her financially, [and] she’s not had vital contact along with her in over six months.”

“I feel you could have a very good case for adoption,” she said.

Though Gary admitted that that is “not one thing we wished to do,” he is involved about Leah’s well-being if one thing have been to occur to him.

“I do not see Amber being what Leah wants,” he mentioned. “I have to know that if one thing occurs to me, Leah’s secure.”

The lawyer mentioned the “timeline” can be about “60 days” to begin the adoption course of.

Later within the episode, Gary and Kristina sat down with Leah, and relayed the data they acquired on the appointment.

Gary mentioned if “every little thing was to go easily,” the adoption “might take three months.” Nevertheless, he advised Leah that if “Amber contests then it might take like a yr, it might take longer.”

“I feel the objective right here is to be sure you’re wholesome and completely happy and brought care of and you’ve got what you need,” Gary mentioned.

Leah — who turned 16 in November — voiced her concern that Amber might make the method “tougher.”

“By then, it’d take two years, after which at that time, there’s probably not no level even going by means of all the difficulty for it,” she mentioned.

In a confessional, Leah shared her ideas, admitting that she actually needs Kristina to undertake her, however she’s “scared” of how Amber might react.

“I need to be adopted as a result of Kristina’s been there my complete life,” the teenager mentioned of her stepmom, who married her dad in 2015. “I imply, I actually need to do it, however I am scared it will make Amber mad. I do not like being imply to folks.”

“However I do not know, I simply really feel prefer it needs to be official, and it is greater than a chunk of paper to me,” she added.

Leah famous her hesitation to her dad and stepmom, earlier than noting that she’s going to “give it some thought” earlier than she decides.

Gary instructed that Leah converse to her therapist concerning the state of affairs to see what will probably be “emotionally be greatest” for her and the “healthiest choice.”

“I do know that your mother loves you,” he mentioned, “however for some cause, she does not know the best way to present it.”

Gary opened up additional in a confessional, telling the MTV cameras, “If it wasn’t for Kristina being in her life as a lot as she was, Leah would not have a mother. It could be no person.”

Kristina, in the meantime, mentioned that Leah is “going to weigh her choices” and “resolve what route she needs to go,” stressing that she “will do no matter she needs.”

“Nothing will change the best way that I like that lady,” she mentioned, later assuring Leah, “I am not going anyplace. I like you, and I am there for you, and we’ll get by means of it.”

New episodes of Teen Mother: The Subsequent Chapter air Thursdays on MTV.