Legal Question in Family Law in Missouri
family law
A friend of my daughter lives with maternal grandparents - her mother is in jail for killing her father - grandparents are legal guardians - grandmother is abusive and the child is 15 - turns 16 in January. Can she choose her own legal guardian? Mother is ok with the child moving in with us but grandparents not - may be financial issues and they may want to retain the state $$ they recieve due to father deceased. Can the child make this choice? Do we have to get DFS involved? Child doesn't want grandmother in trouble and grandfather does not see issue.... may have been reported before through teachers at school....Can I help this girl and let her stay with me?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: family law
You do not indicate why you do not want DFS involved. This is what they do. If you try to avoid the state's system for assisting abused chidlren, you appear to the state as not really believing that the abuse occurs. Every teenager wants to move out to go live with someone else. The grass is always greener over the fence.
If this girl has become more than her grandmother can handle, the state, acting through DFS, may assist her to move elsewhere without "getting the grandmother in trouble." The sttae helps teens move our of their grandparents home with the relationship intact.
If this girl does not want to report what has occurred, she may not really think it is abuse. It may be that she does not like the rules and restrictions that her grandmother places on her, and thinks she will be able to do whatever she wants in your house. If she chomps at the bit in their house, she may do the same in yours. Talk to this girl to see what it really is that she wants to get away from.
You are good to want to help this gal. Do it the right way, and try to avoid bringing trouble into your home.
Good Luck