Duggars welcome child number 20: Jim Bob and Michelle declared legal guardians of their nephew, 8, after his homeless mother is unable to care for the boy

  • Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar have been named the permanent guardians of the 8-year-old son of Michelle's niece Rachel Hutchins
  • Hutchins reportedly signed papers back in July giving he couple custody because she is homeless, unemployed and unable to care for the child
  • She was also arrested and charged with felony breaking and entering this past April 
  • A judge ruled on November 14 that having the Duggars as his permenant guardians was in the boy's 'best interest'
  •  It was revealed last May that the Duggars eldest son Josh had molested four of his sisters when he was a teenager 
  • Despite that molestation scandal, an insider said that the Duggars still believe they will win custody 

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar may have been forced to say goodbye to daughter Jinger after she tied the knot earlier this month, but just one week later the couple welcomed a new child to the family.

The 8-year-old son of Michelle's niece Rachel Hutchins is now officially a member of the Duggar clan, four months after he moved in with the family this past July.

In Touch reports that an Arkansas judge granted a request made by Jim Bob and Michelle to become the permanent guardians of their grand-nephew on November 14, stating in his ruling that it was in the 'best interest' of the child.

The Duggars took in the boy after his 'unemployed and homeless' mother struggled to care for him.  

The news comes a little over a year after it was revealed that the Duggars' eldest son Josh had molested four of his minor sisters when he was a teenager, and that Jim Bob did not formally notify members of law enforcement about his son's offenses.  

Scroll down for video 

New baby: Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar have become the permanent guardians of the 8-year-old son of Michelle's niece Rachel Hutchins (l to r: Jessa, Joy Anna, Janna, Michelle, Carolyn, Rachel and her son, Jinger and Jill in 2014)

Tough times: Hutchins was arrested and charge with felony breaking and entering this past April (mugshot above)

'Jim Bob and Michelle have made the child feel right at home. They treat him like their own and he looks up to them as parents,' a source told the magazine, adding that the boy's mother is also able to have supervised visits with her son at the Duggar's home. 

Hutchins was reportedly among those who supported the Duggars bid to be named the guardian of her son, with her own personal struggles making it difficult to raise the child.

She is on probation for three years after being arrested this past April on felony charges of breaking and entering.

'She's a good person, but she's made some bad decisions,' an insider previously told InTouch.

Her current situation is not known, but according to Facebook she is engaged to a man named Michael Wright. She gave birth to her son as an unwed teenager. 

Hutchins first gave up custody in August 2015, months before her arrest, to Michelle's sister Carolyn.

The Duggars then took custody of the young boy after Carolyn suffered a stroke this past July.

Close: Hutchins frequently posted photos of her self with the Duggar family (above with Jinger)

Decision: A judge ruled on November 14 that having the Duggars as his permenant guardians was in the boy's 'best interest'

The family has spent a good amount of time with Rachel and the young boy in the past, with Hutchins frequently posting photographs of them together on her Facebook page. 

More details can be found in this week's InTouch, on newsstands Friday

Michelle has also frequently talked about her desire to have another child, having given birth to a stillborn daughter in December 2011 that she named Jubilee Shalom.

And it seems that the family's recent scandal was not an issue for the court when agreeing to grant the request for guardianship.

It was revealed in May that Josh had molested multiple minors when he was a teenager, and in June the family confirmed that four of the five victims were his own sisters.

Then in July, TLC announced they would be cancelling the family's show 19 Kids and Counting, but featuring Jessa and Jill in a sexual abuse special.

Josh was never charged with a crime for the incidents as by the time police learned of the offenses the statue of limitations had passed, and his parents did not notify authorities in an official capacity at any point after learning about their son's actions. 

That all seems to be behind the Duggars now though, with a source close to the family saying: 'Jim Bob and Michelle couldn’t be happier right now.'

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now