I am 17, divorce, father neglecting? Need help

[MPSRuo]

Hey,

I live in Florida. I am 17 years old. My mom just arrived back from Brazil for the divorce. She hired a lawyer which, by law, my father will have to pay for when this is all over.

2 weeks ago I got in a fight with my father. He betrayed me in a personal matter and we have not spoken since. His strategy is to deplete my mom's funds. He has teamed up with my older brother in order to deplete her funds.

I work 2 jobs and I'm helping to keep us on our two feet. With the money I make I'm able to support us in terms of food and necessities but something has to be done.

He has sent us NO money for food or anything. My mom's lawyer just sent another bill for $1600 and that'll be the last of her funds if she pays. That means it'll be completely up to me to support us. She's working a job as well but its minimum wage.

Can I contact the authorities or anything par-emergency to force funds from him? Today I've become desperate and reached in his bank account forcefully and withdrew $600, but that'll take up to a week and can be reversed.

Any advice is appreciated.
-B

 

[dakotasmom07]

Not allowed to do that

He shouldn't be allowed to do that. Seems to me he is breaking the law. Highway robbery. Contact the local authorities and see what they say.

 

[carney]

I'm not sure I understand. Is he depleteing funds from a joint bank account that they will be spliting in half after the divorce or is it money that is just hers or is it money or is it money that is in his account that she could win half of after the divorce?
You need to let her lawyer know what he is doing because the judge can order that he not be allowed to touch funds that are going to be split in the divorce. Make sure she asks for alimony since they've been married for a long time.
He doesn't have to provide any money or food or anything for the children unless the court ordered he pay child support to her while the divorce is going on. If both of you are living with your mother she needs to ask the court to establish child support now because when you're 18 it will end unless she has put in the divorce papers that he pay child support if you attend college.