Petitioning For Granddaughter Custody

Summary

To petition for custody of your 16-year-old granddaughter in California, you need to establish a stable home environment, prove its in her best interest, and show the court that her parents are unfit. You have strong evidence of medical, educational, and financial neglect, as well as physical and emotional abuse. Document all relevant conditions, including unsanitary living arrangements and emotional distress. Consult a lawyer to guide you through the process and present your case effectively in court.

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I have a stable and clean environment we both think it's in her best intrest and we have proof of her dad being an unfit parent
Great! You have fulfilled the key requirements. You can file a petition in your local court. Would you like the contact information for the Merced County Superior Court?
No thanks ive been there before to get grandparent visition rights for my grandsons but their mom had full custody and they couldn't say anything because they are under *
It sounds like you're well prepared to petition for custody. As she is *, in California, the court will consider her preference. You may want to consult a lawyer to guide you through the process.
Yes we have proof of medical,educational and financial neglect and physical and emotional abuse and unsanitary living conditions and inappropriate living arrangements
It sounds like you have strong evidence. California law prioritizes the child's best interest. With your proof and her preference, you have a strong case. Consider hiring a lawyer to help you present your case effectively.
Ok yes can i also mention that she was sick * weeks ago and they didn't take her to the er and her throat was hurting so bad she couldn't swallow they gave her antibiotics that were prescribed to her dads mom for tonsillitis
Yes, you should mention this incident. It could serve as evidence of medical neglect, which is a serious concern in child custody cases. It's crucial to present all relevant evidence to the court.
She also mentioned that she hardly gets any privacy because she has to share a room with her dad when they have an extra room for when her nephews come over
This lack of privacy can be considered inappropriate living arrangements. Documenting these conditions can strengthen your case. Do you have any more questions about the process or any other concerns?
She also says she doesn't like sharing a room with her dad because he takes up all the space with his things like the dresser is covered in his stuff and he gets mad when she has "a lot" of stuff on there
Noted. This further demonstrates the inappropriate living arrangements. All these details will help your case. Do you need any more guidance on how to prepare your case or any other legal procedures?
And she doesn't like the fact that she gets cold because he likes it sleep with the window open and have * fans on and she gets cold at night but he complains it's hot
This could be relevant as it shows her discomfort in the living situation. Do you have any other concerns related to this case or any other legal queries?
She aslo mentioned them having black mold in the shower
The presence of black mold can be considered as unsanitary living conditions, which is a significant concern. Do you have any photographs or other evidence of this? It can greatly help your case.
Yes she took a picture and sent it to me she says she doesn't like it because it stinks and she's worried it can make her sick
This is significant evidence. Black mold is a health hazard and can support your claim of unsanitary conditions. Make sure to present this in court. Do you have any other questions?
I have an extra room she stays in when she comes over it has a bed,closet and a dresser for her so she can have her own space and space for her stuff if she can live with me
That's great! Having a stable and appropriate environment for her is crucial. Have you documented this space, like taking pictures, to present as evidence in court?
No but i can take pictures of it should i have her take pictures of her current room
Absolutely, photographs can provide strong evidence of the living conditions. Ensure you capture clear images that accurately represent both environments.
Ok yes another complaint she had was the bed she has to sleel on is about 12 years old and she said it is covered in stains and it constantly slides around
It sounds like her current living conditions are uncomfortable. Has she taken any pictures of this bed? This could be valuable evidence of neglect and unsanitary conditions.
Yes she did and she showed me the whole bottom of it is covered in huge stains the bed i have for her is clean and only about a year old
That's excellent evidence. Comparing the conditions of her current bed with the one at your place could strongly support your case. Do you have any more queries on this matter?
Yes she also said that her dad puts a lot of his stuff on her bed and she doesn't have that much room and she'll knock into it when she's sleeping
This can add to the evidence of inappropriate living arrangements. Has she taken pictures of how her bed is cluttered with her dad's belongings?
Yes
Excellent, all these photographs will be valuable evidence. Remember to keep them safe and accessible for court. Do you need any further guidance on this matter or any other legal issues?
She also has pictures of the walls being stained she said she's offered to clean them but her dads mom said no because the paint them ever couple of years
The stained walls can show the unsanitary conditions she's living in. Has she documented this thoroughly? Remember, every piece of evidence strengthens your case. Do you have any other questions or concerns?
She has taken pictures
Great! Photographs are a strong form of evidence. Is there any other information or questions you have about this legal process?
She says they always want her to clean the house because she lives there for free they want her to sweel,dust,mop,clean the bathrooms and help out with the dishes she said she can get it done in a day but at my house she is only responsible for cleaning her own mess that is my house it's my responsibility to clean it she can clean it if she offers to
This could be relevant to showing the contrast in living conditions and treatment. Has she documented these differences, such as her cleaning duties at her dad's house and the lack of such at your house?
Her dad has called me and complained that she hasn't cleaned since she got back and she needs to sweep and scrub the bathrooms before she can go back
This behavior from her dad can illustrate the difference in treatment at both homes. Has she captured any of these communications, like texts or emails, that can serve as evidence?
No but I'm a witness because he told me what he told her
That's useful information. As a witness, your statements can add weight to the case. Do you have any other queries on this matter or any other legal issue?
She told me that he always says i spoil her and let her do whatever she wants but that's not true and he says she is lazy and has an attitude when she comes back and stays in the room all day i talked to her and she said it's because she's sad whenever she has to leave she starts crying and her dad says "either that emotional crap need to stop happening or you need to stop going pick one"
It sounds like a difficult situation. Her emotional state is important in this case. Has she documented any instances of emotional abuse or neglect?
Yes she has text from her dad threatening to hit her
That's serious. Have these texts been saved? They could serve as critical evidence of physical and emotional abuse.
Yes she screen shot them and sent them to me so i can save them
That's excellent. These screenshots will be crucial evidence of abuse. Make sure they're presented in court. Do you need any more information about the legal process or any other issues?
Yes she also had a text from her dad saying "Just stay home tomorrow I already loose to much sleep l'm not going to get * hrs sleep then pick you up and get * more then work"
This text could be indicative of neglect. Make sure to save it as evidence. Do you have any other questions on this topic or any other legal issue?
That text was from a while ago i don't know if it can still be used
Absolutely, it can still be used. The court will consider all relevant evidence, regardless of when it was produced. Do you have any other queries about the court procedure or any other legal matter?
She also said she gets scared of her dad and tries to not make him mad because he gets mad easily and yells and cussing when he gets angry
Her emotional distress is relevant. Has she documented any instances of her dad's anger, like text messages or audio recordings?
The only ones she has is when he's threatening to hit her
These threats are serious and can serve as evidence of emotional abuse. Make sure to keep these documented. Do you need more guidance on how to present your case or any other legal matters?
This is a text from her dad that she saved "Put your clothes away and clean living room... do your hair and put in ponyta il.. dont make me use the belt in the morning"
This message could indicate a threat of physical punishment. Has she saved any other similar messages from her dad?
Yes she has * in total
All these messages are crucial evidence of potential abuse. Has she documented any other instances of abuse or neglect? It's important to gather as much evidence as possible.
He hasn't taken her to the doctors or dentist in years
This could be considered medical neglect. Do you have any proof, like medical records or lack thereof, to show that she hasn't received necessary medical care?
I actually made her a doctor appointment and I'm going to take her i told her to ask for her medical records
That's a good step. The medical records will help to prove medical neglect. Does she have any other medical issues that were not addressed by her father?
She had a really sore throat a couple of weeks ago and it hurt to swallow and he didn't take her to the doctors or make her an appointment
This could be another instance of medical neglect. Did she document this incident, like taking a picture of her throat or keeping any communication where she told her father about her illness?
Yes she did she showed it to her dad and he said it looked like tonsillitis
This could be evidence of medical neglect. Has she kept any records or pictures of her throat from that time, or any messages where she informed her father about her condition?
No she hasn't she has a picture of the antibiotics they gave her that clearly show her dads moms name on them
This can support your claim of medical neglect. Has she documented any other instances where she was denied proper medical care?
No ther that not being checked in years
This could be a strong case of neglect. Have you considered seeking legal assistance to ensure all relevant evidence is presented effectively in court?
She also has evidence of him taking $* out of her account
That is concerning. Does she have any bank statements or transaction records to prove this unauthorized withdrawal?
Yes she found a paper in the mail
That's a serious matter. Has she kept this paper as proof of her dad's unauthorized withdrawal from her account?
I don't know she took a picture and sent it to me though
That's good. Make sure she keeps the original paper as well, if possible. It will serve as crucial evidence. Do you have any other questions regarding this legal matter or any other issue?