A Nebraska widower who legally transferred the burden of caring for his nine children to the state last year through its safe haven law is expecting twin babies from his girlfriend.

Gary Staton, 37, has informed his children about the twin babies last month, according to the mother of his late wife, whose death forced him to abandon their children age one to 17 at an Omaha hospital.

While Staton was able to abandon his children on grounds he could not handle the burden of caring for them, he would be able to keep the twin babies when they are born instead of being taken away by the state for custody.

The state cannot remove the babies from his custody unless there's evidence that they are in danger, Brenda Beadle, chief deputy attorney of Douglas County, told Foxnews.com.

Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services has given Staton's nine children nearly $1 million in assistance, including food and Medicaid, as provided under the state's Safe Haven law, which aims to save and help abandoned children.