Legal Question in Family Law in Indiana

My sister in law will be 17 in August, she is staying the summer with my husband and I to get away from a bad home situation. She has recently talked to her parents about staying this school year with us as well. They said no. The history behind the situation is as follows. About four years ago she was raped by her older sister's boyfriend. She waited some time before coming out with it and he was charged and found guilty. Her parents never took her to see a doctor, get tested, or set her up with counceling. Her mom has since become an alcholic and blames the guilt from whatr happened to her daughter as why she drinks. This only makes things worse for my sister in law. To add to the situation she has been continuously harassed at school over these past years. When she has reported this to the office nothing is ever done about it. My question is as follows. Is there any way we/she can get any legal merit to force her parents to allow her to move. Or if she refuses to go home and we allow her to stay with us how much legal trouble would that cause her and us?


Asked on 6/10/11, 10:00 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jay Rigdon Rockhill Pinnick LLP

It will be kidnapping if you keep her there. You can report the facts to the local child protective services agency and see if they will intervene. If you are going to go to court (not her, you) to seek custody, you need to sit down and talk in detail with an attorney about your chances.

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Answered on 6/10/11, 11:23 am


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