Legal Question in Family Law in Illinois

I have a 14 year old daughter. I lost contact with her for 10 years. After reuniting within a month her mother sent her to live with me. Just over the last week my daughter has told me she does not want anything to do with her mother. Since she been here her grades in school have gone way up, she a little happier and shes more outgoing. Now her mom is a compulsive lier about everything that comes from her mouth. She lies to my daughter and she menatlly abuses my daughter. Her mom has legal custody BUT she sees her every other wekend now for a year. SHe does drugs,drinks and has a abusive boyfriend she lives with menatally abusive towards my daughter. She doesnt want to be around that at all. Her mom has no interest in her school life or anything she is now succeeding in. Before I was around again last summer she was touched by her mom friend in a way that is illegal. Her mother never followed through with any legal things with that. My daughter has explained to me she was left all alone all the time, locked in the basement sometimes, saw her mom mixing a white powder in a bowl her mom said was medicine. Her mom has smoked pot in front of me and offered to me and I walked away saying I dont do that. Her 2 aunts and grandma all take my side on this and think I should look into legal help to get custody. Now my daughter wants to get a restraining order against her mom and her boyfriend. She gets scared to even go there but she is afraid they may take her from my home also. Her mom has also always been a stripper and I have seen the way she is trying to teach my daughter things that a 14 year old should not know yet. Theres so much more but thats a good start I think. My question is with her being 14 could she legally determine where she wants to live and get a restraining order against her mom? Also would they take her from here is she is happy here and doing well here? The worst thing would be for her to wanna do this and the court put her back at her mothers. What are our legal rights? I do know it would have to be done quickly.Please help me. Thank you very much.

Asked on 9/14/09, 11:42 pm

Sue Roberts-Kurpis, Esq. Law Office of Sue Roberts-Kurpis

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Sounds like a real can of worms. Hire a lawyer who can sit down with you and your daughter and review the facts and give you proper advice.

Answered on 9/20/09, 3:41 am

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