My question is...If joint custody has been agreed upon between the other parent and I, and currently that other parent has full custody, will we need a lawyer to draw up the petition and see a judge to sign off on it? BTW, the kid has been living with me already for the past 3 years..I am his paternal sister. His maternal grandmom has legal custody of him right now but she is 80+ years old. Which is why he's been living with me. Trying to get my brother into school and they're saying I have to have some sort of legal custody to do so. Please Help!