I have primary physical custody. Father has visitation every other weekend. We have shared legal custody.
My 15 yr old daughter decided the other day to go spend the night with her dad. It wasn't his scheduled visitation, but I did not oppose.
2 days later, she informs me that she will not be returning home and that she is moving into his home and changing schools. I of course said "No."
She then informed me that she is "old enough to tell the court" who she wants to live with. She obviously was told this by her father and step mother. She also told me "Fine then, my Dad will just fight you on it."
This whole thing has come about extremely abruptly and totally out of the blue. I do not understand what brought it on. She did not leave my house in a bad mood, or after an argument or anything like that.
Previously, she had been having a lot of "issues" with the step mother. Verbal abuse, emotional abuse and it had started getting somewhat physical. My daughter had stopped visitting her dad for this reason. He did nothing about the situation and would basically make my daughter feel like it was her fault that she was being treated so badly. He never stood up for her or protected her during these situations. Most times, according to my daughter, he would act as though nothing at all was happening, even if he was in the same room. I have 2 other children as well and they both say the same thing.
2 days prior to this visit, she had a "situation" with the step mother and so she was upset with her father and the step mother.
This is partly why I am so confused as to what is going on. She went from not wanting to visit at all, to wanting to move there with no valid reasons to do so.
There are many reasons why I know for a fact that it is not in her best interest to live with her father. I can explain it all later on, if need be.
My question as of now though, is what can or should I do?
Since she is 15, will they look at it as a runaway, where the court will not get involved and will not make her return home? Or, does the custody order still prevail?
My daughter will not answer me via text, nor return my calls.
His court ordered weekend visit ends today 8/14.
My 15 yr old daughter decided the other day to go spend the night with her dad. It wasn't his scheduled visitation, but I did not oppose.
2 days later, she informs me that she will not be returning home and that she is moving into his home and changing schools. I of course said "No."
She then informed me that she is "old enough to tell the court" who she wants to live with. She obviously was told this by her father and step mother. She also told me "Fine then, my Dad will just fight you on it."
This whole thing has come about extremely abruptly and totally out of the blue. I do not understand what brought it on. She did not leave my house in a bad mood, or after an argument or anything like that.
Previously, she had been having a lot of "issues" with the step mother. Verbal abuse, emotional abuse and it had started getting somewhat physical. My daughter had stopped visitting her dad for this reason. He did nothing about the situation and would basically make my daughter feel like it was her fault that she was being treated so badly. He never stood up for her or protected her during these situations. Most times, according to my daughter, he would act as though nothing at all was happening, even if he was in the same room. I have 2 other children as well and they both say the same thing.
2 days prior to this visit, she had a "situation" with the step mother and so she was upset with her father and the step mother.
This is partly why I am so confused as to what is going on. She went from not wanting to visit at all, to wanting to move there with no valid reasons to do so.
There are many reasons why I know for a fact that it is not in her best interest to live with her father. I can explain it all later on, if need be.
My question as of now though, is what can or should I do?
Since she is 15, will they look at it as a runaway, where the court will not get involved and will not make her return home? Or, does the custody order still prevail?
My daughter will not answer me via text, nor return my calls.
His court ordered weekend visit ends today 8/14.