Legal Question in Family Law in California
What type of legal rights do I have with my little sisters
My two little sisters come from two parents that are verbally abusive. I don't like how they are treated and it has gotten so bad that their school is stepping in. I have been told by their school counselor that I should find out my legal rights and what I would be able to do if they were turned over to the state. I am living in California and they are living in New Mexico. I think social services is going to be involved and I am worried because I dont want the girls to end up with their dad or in foster care. Their dad lives in Utah and I know when he finds out he will try to take the girls. I think the plan is to find both of the parents abusive although it is mostly verbal sometimes it's physical. My mom has bipolar and she is not on any type of medications. When the girls live with their dad he leaves them at his parents house because he is a truck driver. The grandparents treat the girls horrible. I need some advice on what I can do to help my sisters. If it comes down to it I will keep them but I would also need help with supporting them. I couldn't afford it unless I found some type of help whether it's state or child support.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: What type of legal rights do I have with my little sisters
If your sisters' mother and father have a divorce or Complaint to Establish Paternity case that made a child custody order that court has jurisdiction over them. You can request to be joined as a party and seek custody and child support. If the mother and father agree it will almost certainly be granted by the court. Start by talking this over with them. If you need help with the paperwork you should find an attorney in the place where the case is in case the attorney has to go to court for you. If Father does not agree he would have to be proven to be a bad parent. Merely leaving the children with the grandparents while he works as a trucker is probably not enough.
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