I need to know what all I need to do, or my daughter needs to do to come live with me? She lives with her dad.

Question

She lives with her dad right now and wants to live with me! she is 13 and has thoughts of suicide but is happy when shes with me... what can we do to help her?! Do I need to call the courts? How much will this cost cuz I am broke, can she do something? Please help!!!

Answer 1

If you're broke, then how much better off is she going to be living with you? Has she talked of suicide or actually tried to commit suicide? Does her father know any of this? If he doesn't, why not? If he does, what steps has he taken?

If your daughter doesn't live with you, then the courts had decided at one time that either her dad was more fit to raise her or that you were unfit to raise her. You don't state which and you don't state if anything has changed concerning this.

If your daughter hasn't tried to commit suicide, then she might be talking about it only as talk, using it as a way to persuade you to let her live with you.

If you don't see her with her dad, then you don't know if she is truly unhappy when she is with him. Since she's thirteen, then she could be unhappy only in the normal teenage way. You might be letting her do all of the things her dad puts restrictions on, and so she wants to be with you, which wouldn't be doing her any favours, if true.

You leave so much out that is vital to the story that I wonder what is really going on.

Answer 2

I am uncertain as to where you are located but I do know that here in Ontario, Canada that a child that age would be allowed to choice where she wanted to live. I would imagine that you would have to go to the Family Court and have an order that you would get custody of the child and dad given his rights for visitation. But you may be able to discuss this with your ex and come to an agreement without having a court order if you both have the child's best interest at heart. Providing that your young daughter is living with her dad by choice and not because of your parenting skills this should not be a problem. Many young kids her age do think about taking their lives and a lot of time some little thing that we as adults would consider as normal they view as the end of the world. You and your ex may also be wise to have her see a therapist if she would open up to them about her feelings and it may even be necessary for the three of you to attend together in order to help her out. Best of luck to all involved.

Answer 3

If you are broke, most big cities have social services that can put you in touch with an attourney that will give some free advice. Then you can go down and get the forms with instructions at the courthouse. There may even be someone there to help. You may have to pay a filing fee (call the courts to get pricing), and finally, if he won't sign a reciept, you may have to pay a fee to have him served. Going to court without an attourney might be a mistake, but it might be your only choice.

Also, social services may be willing to step in if your daughter is truely suicidal.

Answer 4

These cases do not take long if you get reports from psychologists stating that your daughter has thoughts of your suiciding or if the father is not treating her good or if his standard of living is bad and about money it will cost you not much

Answer 5

She is old enough to tell a judge that she wants to live with you. Make an appt to talk to a family court judge.

Answer 6

You do whatever you can to help her. Is her father a bad person? Where have you been? She needs to build trust and know that (if it is the case) she is important to someone in her life.

I hope everyone gets sorted out here.

Answer 7

I THINK SHE IS OLD ENOUGH TO SAY WHO SHE WANTS TO LIVE WITH ...TAKE HIM TO COURT..GET A COURT APP. LAWY
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