Emancipated question

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-29-2004
Emancipated question
4
Wed, 08-30-2006 - 10:06am

I'm not sure this is the correct place to post this but any info would be greatly appreciated.

My boyfriend and I have been together a little over a year and moved in together 2 months ago. Here is a little bit of background to help understand the dilemma we have. He met his x-wife when her daughter was 2 years old, he raised this child since that time and since they split up in January of 05 they shared visitation ( one week with him, one with her). About 2 months ago his X and her BF broke up due to domestic violence. She has herself in a financial mess and also received a DUI during this time. After BF left she took a bunch of Tylenol and called her daughter, neighbors, and us to ask if that was enough to kill her. We called 911 and she was hospitalized, her daughter of course wanted to see her so we took her there to see her. She refused to see her and told her she no longer lives with her, she told her if she went to her house she would have her arrested. So for the past 2 months his daughter is living with us, she spent one night since that time with her mom. His ex set a dental appointment yesterday for her daughter which turned out to be a disaster. We received a call about 7.30 from his daughter crying she wanted to come home, his ex screaming in the background … we agreed to meet her and pick up his daughter. When we get there his daughter gets out of the car and gets in ours, at that time his ex comes over to the car stating “ she (her daughter) no longer wants anything to do with her, none of her family wants anything to do with her and we are now her family “ we said fine, no problem. She then tried to open his door which was locked, she then proceeded to open the back door and get her daughter, I then called 911. He gets out of the car to get her out of the back door and get out of there … she then calls 911 that he is kidnapping her daughter. At that time we leave to find out that his daughter and ex had a fight where mom went to punch her and she moved her head to the side and hit her head on the fish tank putting a gash above her eye. She said mom was smacking her and grabbed her from behind leaving a bruise on her arm. We went directly to the ER where she received 5 stitches. The police show up, take her statement and tell us that because she has not physical marks there is not much they can do. (??) So I guess if she would have punched her and caused her to hit the tank from the impact that would be child abuse? I’m not sure I understand that but here is the problem, because he has no legal guardianship and mom kicked her out is it possible that we can help her become emancipated so she does not have to be subjected to the physical and mental abuse from her mother? BTW: we live in Florida.

Thanks
VG

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-27-2004
Wed, 08-30-2006 - 4:06pm
How old is the daughter?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-31-2006 - 11:28am
This is really sad. Thank God she has you and your husband because if she didn't she wouldn't stand a chance. Please try to find your local child advocacy agency and talk to them about this situation. They should know what your options are. Best of luck to all of you.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-29-2004
Thu, 08-31-2006 - 1:01pm

Well because I called 911 when this happened,it involved the police and because she is only 16 social services have gotten involved. We met with a social worker yesterday who also met with her mom, she feels that its in his daughters best interest to stay with us and he is being awarded temporary custody!! They are going to make mom go to counceling and she will be re-evaluated in 3 months.

Thanks for the input/advise everyone!!

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-05-2004
Tue, 09-05-2006 - 10:26am
I'm late to the thread, but glad to hear that things have worked out for the moment. My suggestion was going to be to call Social Services: I'm glad that was done.