Suffolk Family Court Help

To make a VERY long story short, my step daughter's bio mother is very unfit. We have been battling back and forth for 3 years now and she lies upon lies upon lies under oath and gets what she wants CONSTANTLY. We paid child support willingly even though she lived with us 80% of the time for the last 2 years. Now she suddenly is keeping her more and ripped her from our home out of spite for the last 3 months. My step daughter is 3 years old now and calls my husband every day saying she wants to live with us and cries every time she has to leave to go back. Her mother says she behaves really really bad over there (hitting, biting, cursing, throwing fits) and she doesn't behave like that AT ALL for us. CPS has been called on the mother numerous times and it always gets dismissed somehow.

Is there any way we can get someone to represent my step daughter in court or is she still too young? If we call or go down there will they investigate further or listen to what a 3 year old has to say?

Message edited 4/27/2009 12:33:41 PM.

Re: Suffolk Family Court Help

She can get a court-appointed guardian. Not sure how you get one, but SS has one actually, done during the initial divorce to represent the child's interests.

Re: Suffolk Family Court Help

Re: Suffolk Family Court Help

Your DH has to petition the court for a change in custody. He should document everything that is done, said, etc. by BM and child. Once the petition goes forward, a guardian ad litem will be appointed to represent the child.

Your DH will need a good attorney, too. I think that was a big help in my DH getting custody of his daughters and they were much, much older and did not want to leave their mom, but there was a lot of stuff that made her not the best parent for custody.

Good luck!