Legal Question in Family Law in California

Child custody for autistic child

My step-daughter is 11 and severly autistic. My husband has physical custody of her and shared legal custody. Her mother has not had visitations (by her refusal) for over 8 years. She doesn't call and has not been involved in my step-daughter's life at all. Mother has been homeless for most of this time, been into drugs and been to jail numerous times. For over 10 years I have raised her as my own and I am the only mom she knows. I recently obtained guardianship of her mother's two other children. Now, maternal mother is stating that she wants all her kids back. My main concern is for my autistic step-daughter. She has no realationship with her mother. My step-daughter is non-verbal so she can't tell the court her wishes. We can't afford an attorney and are really worried that the court will order some kind of visitation. What can we do to prove mom is unstable?


Asked on 1/26/08, 4:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lyle Johnson Bedi and Johnson Attorneys at Law

Re: Child custody for autistic child

If you have guardianship of the other two children and the autistic child lives with you and her father it will take more that a request for custody. Do not give the mother or grandmother custody of any of the children. That will require her to go to court to get an order giving her custody.

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Answered on 1/31/08, 10:51 pm


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