Legal Question in Family Law in California
One of the moms from our dance competition team had been "awol" for most of the past 6 months, and when she finally appeared she told us that her husband has 'lost his mind' taking her car keys, her driver's license, and any access to money away from her, literally forbidding her to leave the house. He allowed her to come to this rehearsal because parents were required to be there but he drove her there. He showed back up to pick up wife and daughter from rehearsals and stood sort of in front but partially next to her with an expression on his face that translated to "don't even..." She is terrified and uncertain if he needs mental help or if she needs to find a way out of there. The shelters we called stated since she wasn't in any immediate physical danger they couldn't take her. We are worried that he has been contemplating isolating their daughter as well since he has been commenting on pulling her out of dance and another after school activity.
We all want to help her - at this point its been 6 months that he has either monitored her activities or has not allowed her to leave the house and we all fear that eventually he may get physical in order to assert 100% control of her.
She fears that if she does call an Emergency Psych team to the house that he will refuse to go then retaliate on her. If he is actually just a mean abusive monster how do we get her out of there and where do we take her? Legally how would she handle this situation?
I want to give her solid advice, so I thank you for any answers I may get for her.
2 Answer from Attorneys
Contact your local police and ask for someone from the domestic violence team do a health and saftey check. They may be willing to meet her at the competition rehersal if this is a safer place for her.