Concerned outsider

[The_scootness]

Father has been in the Military for 10 years, going threw divorce, has 2 daughters( 5 and 6) Father goes to see the kids every chance he gets, takes them to school, takes them to church, goes to ball games, reads to them at night and even visits the school to check on 6yr olds progress. He buys clothes regularly which seem to come missing often.

Mother hasn't worked in over a year, has four childeren total (16, 12, 6 and 5) Mother has a car but no license, and no insurance and car is not registered. Has no gas or electric in her house. has been arrested for shoplifting and the 12yr old was with her. 16yr old quit school at 15 and smokes pot and supposedly has her own place.

Father is fighting for full custody in Indiana what are his chances of winning? And can he do to betterhis chances?

 

[ohiogranny]

Father has been in the Military for 10 years, going threw divorce, has 2 daughters( 5 and 6) Father goes to see the kids every chance he gets, takes them to school, takes them to church, goes to ball games, reads to them at night and even visits the school to check on 6yr olds progress. He buys clothes regularly which seem to come missing often.

Kudos to him.

Mother hasn't worked in over a year, has four childeren total (16, 12, 6 and 5) Mother has a car but no license, and no insurance and car is not registered.

Not important.

Has no gas or electric in her house. has been arrested for shoplifting and the 12yr old was with her. 16yr old quit school at 15 and smokes pot and supposedly has her own place.

Was she charged with child endangering or whatever? Was CPS ever involved? Is she currently without gas or electric?

Father is fighting for full custody in Indiana what are his chances of winning? And can he do to better his chances?

Are mom and dad in the same state? I don't think he'll prevail unless he can PROVE that mom's actions are endangering HIS kids. The other kids don't matter. Sounds like pretty bad parenting on mom's part as far as they are concerned. (Maybe their dad(s) isn't as involved as you are.)

 

[The_scootness]

Yes gas and eletric is currently shut off, and CpS has been called but said couldn't get involved without cops involvement. And kids could be endangered if sister is getting high infront of them

 

[The_scootness]

They do live in the state, and he is very involved in this matter more than most fathers would be. She also lets the 6yr old stay home from scool which is threatening the education and goes out often leaving kids with aunt who does pills

 

[ohiogranny]

Doesn't sound right about the cops involvement, but I'm no expert there.
He would need PROOF that half-sis is getting high and that she is endangering them by doing so. Does she babysit them?

And the aunt with the pills....what kind? Again, he needs proof.

As for school, if she missed enough of it and her grades dropped, that might be something he could bring to court.

Honestly, it's very hard to change custody.
Read this:
http://www.uslaw.com/library/Indiana/Changing_Custody_FAQ.php?item=229194

I would ask someone else about the gas and electric issue, maybe a supervisor at CPS.

Also....any chance of Dad being deployed, or relocating in the near future?