Living With Grandmother Process

Summary

California law allows minors to petition for guardianship if they face neglect or abuse. Evidence like medical neglect, emotional abuse, and unsanitary living conditions can support your case. Consult an attorney and report to Child Protective Services. Your grandmother can file for guardianship in the Superior Court. Keep all evidence safe and seek professional help.

Full Conversation

Hello so im trying to live with my grandma im currently 16 years old I live in Merced california and I have evidence against my dad such as medical neglect, emotional abuse,financial abuse and unsanitary living conditions and educational neglect
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Here are some general laws:
*. California law allows for a minor to petition the court for emancipation, provided certain criteria are met.
*. Child abuse and neglect are serious crimes, and a report can be made to Child Protective Services.
Would your grandmother be willing to file for guardianship?
Yes she said she'll take me to court when i asked
It's good to hear your grandmother is supportive. In California, she can file for guardianship in the Superior Court in your county. It's advisable to consult with a local attorney for specific guidance.
Yeah so i have text of my dad threatening to hit me and i have proof of medical neglect and i have pictures of the shower having black mold and i also have proof of him not taking me to school that much(i go to independent studies so i only need to go once a week)
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. This evidence could be crucial in a guardianship case. It's recommended that your grandmother also contact Child Protective Services to report the neglect and abuse. Be sure to keep all evidence safe.
I will so me and my dad live with his parents and his sister it's his moms house and i have text between me and my brother saying that my sister said she was a bully towards me (my sister used to live here too) all * of my siblings my dad didn't raise can i use that against him too?
Yes, additional evidence of emotional abuse can strengthen your case. However, the relevance of your dad not raising your siblings might depend on the specifics. Consulting a local attorney would provide clearer guidance.
Him not raising them affected them a lot i have text of my brother saying that "dad doesn't care about me"
I'm sorry to hear that. Such texts can support your claim of emotional neglect. Remember to share all this evidence with your attorney and Child Protective Services. It's important to keep yourself safe.
I also have text proving my dad parents use favoritism I'm not sure if that counts as emotional abuse though
Favoritism can contribute to an emotionally abusive environment, but the specifics matter. It would be most beneficial to consult with an attorney or child protective services to assess the situation. Keep all evidence for reference.
My dad's parents also say hurtful things my dad and his mom say stuff about my weight i texted what she said to myself but i don't have a video of her saying it
I'm sorry to hear about your experiences. Body shaming can be considered emotional abuse. The texts could be important evidence. It's essential to consult an attorney or Child Protective Services. Keep yourself safe and document all occurrences.
Could i use my dad not raising my siblings against him? They are all grown
Yes, the fact that your dad didn't raise your siblings could be relevant in your case. It could potentially indicate a pattern of neglect or abandonment. However, the court will consider many factors. A local attorney can provide more specific advice.
Well my dad doesn't take me to the doctor or dentist he hasn't in years i told my grandma about that and she made an appointment for me
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Medical neglect is a serious issue. It might be crucial evidence in a guardianship case. Your grandmother's initiative is commendable. Please ensure to consult with an attorney and report this to Child Protective Services.
A couple of weeks ago i had severe throat pain i almost cried drinking water because it hurt so much and i showed my dad what my throat looked like and he said it looks like tonsillitis and he showed his mom and she gave me some antibiotics that were prescribed to her i think that's dangerous because it could've been a different sickness and i should've went to the er if i was in that much pain also i researched the medicine and people reported it causing tendon problems
I'm sorry to hear about your health issue. Your situation may fall under medical neglect, which is a form of child abuse according to California law. It is essential to seek professional help, and report this to Child Protective Services.
I have a picture of the medicine they gave me it shows that it was prescribed to her and it shows the name of the medicine and the dosage i only took it once because i was scared to take it if i didn't actually have tonsillitis since i didn't get professionally checked
That's a serious concern. Improper medication could have severe impacts. Keep this evidence safe as it can support your claim of medical neglect. Remember to consult with an attorney or Child Protective Services for advice.
My grandma said i should've went to the doctors if i was in that much pain
Your grandma is right. It's important to seek medical help when in severe pain. Giving someone else's prescription medication is illegal and can be considered medical neglect. This can be used as evidence in your case.
My grandma had to make me a doctors appointment because i told her i haven't been to the doctors in years and she said that's not good you need to get checked so she is going to take me in a couple of weeks to get a check up I'm also going to ask for my medical records to show i haven't been there in awhile
It's crucial to have regular medical check-ups, especially at your age. Your medical records can serve as valuable evidence in your case. In the meantime, keep yourself safe and continue to document any instances of neglect or abuse. How are you managing with your schooling during this difficult time?
I do independent studies so i only go once a week and the work is easy to me but i don't even go once a week i have text from my teacher saying he hasn't seen me in awhile
It sounds like your education may also be affected. In California, it's a requirement that a child attends school regularly. Your teacher's text could be another piece of evidence of neglect. Are you able to keep up with your studies despite the circumstances?
My grandma has a high school really close by and she said she'll take me there i also have some friends at that high school i have no friends where i currently live
That's great to hear. Having a supportive environment is important for your well-being. Has your grandmother started the process to file for guardianship or have you reported these issues to Child Protective Services yet?
No not yet so she said to wait until after my birthday party on june 15th so my dad will let me go but she said to keep collecting evidence in the meantime
It's good you're collecting evidence. Remember, it's crucial to report these issues to Child Protective Services as soon as possible. Also, your grandmother can start filing for guardianship. Please stay safe.
My grandma has also witnessed some emotional abuse like my dad threatened to take me away from her he told her he doesn't want to but he might have to and he told me he'll completely cut of any connections to her but i told he can't legally do that unless you guys are a danger to me so you can report that if he does
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Threats can be considered emotional abuse. Your grandmother's testimony could strengthen your case. Continue gathering evidence and consult with an attorney or Child Protective Services. Stay safe.
I have lots of evidence medical records,bank papers text,witnesses and pictures
That's a significant amount of evidence. It's essential to keep it safe and share it with your attorney and Child Protective Services. Have you spoken with an attorney about your situation yet?
Well so one of my friends aunts is a lawyer but she said she can't help that much because she's not licensed in California but she told me i can have an opinion on where i want to live
It's good to know you're informed about your rights. In California, a child's preference may be considered in custody cases, depending on their age and maturity. It's advisable to seek counsel from a California-licensed attorney to understand your situation better.
I have a family friend who is a social worker do you think she can help me out too?
Yes, a social worker can be very helpful. They can guide you through the process of reporting abuse and neglect, and they can connect you with resources in your community. They may also be able to provide emotional support and counseling.
I don't know if this can be used against my dad but i have text of him cussing in our conversation
While cussing may not be illegal, it can add to the case of emotional abuse if it's directed at you and is harmful in nature. It's recommended to share this with your attorney and Child Protective Services as part of your evidence.
If i remember correctly he said that i was being an A word to his mom
I'm sorry to hear that. If your dad's comments were hurtful and inappropriate, they could potentially contribute to a case of emotional abuse. It's important that you share this information with your attorney and Child Protective Services. Stay safe.
Oh he said "You figure it out. But I'm telling you if you ask nonie and she says no don't be all ass hurt about it and if she says no and you sray that long you won't be going back for your birthday or anytime soon" (nonie is what everyone calls my dads mom)
I'm sorry to hear that. Such comments can be seen as threatening, which could constitute emotional abuse. Share this with your attorney and Child Protective Services. Remember to keep yourself safe. Has your grandmother initiated the process to file for guardianship?
No not yet i was thinking to wait until after my birthday party and then ask if she can have temporary custody of me until all of this is settled because i don't want my dad yelling at me when he finds out
That sounds like a good plan. Remember, your safety is the priority. You can apply for temporary guardianship which can be converted to permanent later. Also, remember to report to Child Protective Services. Stay strong and safe.
I have a photo album in my gallery of evidence like text and bank papers and stuff we can use against him stuff i researched a little about
That's a good initiative. However, it's important to consult with an attorney or Child Protective Services on how best to use your evidence. Have you considered reaching out to them yet?
No not yet I'm going to get an attorney when i go back to my grandma's
That's a good plan. Remember to share all the evidence you have collected with your attorney. They can guide you on the best course of action. Stay safe and strong during this process.
Would it be illegal if we recorded my dad if he calls one of us just in case he yells? I'll tell him when he answers that he's being recorded
In California, it's legal to record a phone call if all parties are informed and consent to the recording. So, if you tell your dad he's being recorded and he doesn't object, it should be okay.
I have a text message between me and my brother asking how everything was going and he said "i heard nonie was being a bully to you" my sister and dad told him that this was when we first moved here though so i don't know if it's evidence
It's concerning to hear about your situation. Such text messages could serve as evidence of emotional abuse. It's important to share all this with your attorney and Child Protective Services. Have you collected any more evidence since we last spoke?
So can my dad say anything to the court that will make them not ket my grandma have custody of me?
Yes, your dad can present his side to the court. However, the court will consider all evidence, including the neglect and abuse you've documented. A California attorney can provide specific guidance on this.
My dad would probably make a lot of excuses like saying he's busy he works a lot he was sick and in the hospital
While those can be factors, the court's priority is your wellbeing. Have you documented any neglect or abuse during these times when your dad was unavailable? This could be important evidence.
My dad's mom and sister "watched" after me they made sure i was doing good in school but his mom said she talked to my dad and said she's going to starve me until i clean and she also said that if i didn't go to the hospital with them she'll tell my dad i wasn't interested in seeing him
I'm sorry to hear about this. Threats like these can be considered emotional abuse. Document these occurrences and share them with your attorney and Child Protective Services. Do you have any evidence of these threats, like text messages or witnesses?
I think i might have recorded her saying that i have a recording where she came pounding on my door
That's concerning to hear. If you have a recording, it could serve as important evidence of abuse. Remember to share all this with your attorney and Child Protective Services. Have you spoken to your grandmother about these threats?
This might be irrelevant but i have a recording of her she was talking about to me about how i stopped helping out around the house and she said "i don't know why you stopped helping out around the house and i don't really care but you need to start helping out again because you live and eat here for free"
While it's normal for parents to expect help around the house, it becomes a concern if it's excessive or used as an excuse for neglect. Does this situation happen often? Have you shared this recording with your attorney or Child Protective Services?
No i haven't they don't make me clean excessively
That's good to hear. Your wellbeing is important, and excessive chores could indicate neglect. Keep documenting any instances of emotional abuse or neglect. Remember to share all your evidence with an attorney or Child Protective Services. Stay safe.
I was just a little hurt when she said she didn't care why i wasn't helping out around the house i was just so sad at the time because i missed my grandma
I'm sorry to hear about your feelings. It's crucial to express these emotions to your attorney or Child Protective Services. They can provide more specific advice and help. Remember, your mental well-being matters as well. Stay safe.
Ok so so far i have evidence of neglect,emotional abuse from my dad and his mom financial abuse unsanitary living conditions educational neglect
It's good you're collecting evidence. It's advisable to consult with an attorney and report these issues to Child Protective Services as soon as possible. Be sure to keep all your evidence safe. Stay safe and strong.
What would it be under when they gave me medicine prescribed to his mom?
This action may fall under "medical neglect" and "illegal distribution of prescription medication". It's crucial to consult with an attorney or Child Protective Services about this.
Oh ok i didn't even know it was illegal to do that I'll know for next time I'm glad i only took it once because i could've gotten really sick from that
Yes, it's illegal and potentially dangerous to take someone else's prescription medication. This could be key evidence of medical neglect. Always consult with a healthcare professional before taking any medication. Please remember to share this with your attorney or Child Protective Services.
I will I'm glad i took a picture of the bottle showing his moms name
That's excellent evidence of medical neglect. It shows they gave you medication not prescribed to you. Keep it safe and share it with your attorney and Child Protective Services.