I’m (18F) concerned about my younger sister (16F) who recently showed up at our house in Texas announcing she’s going to live with us now. My mother and I assumed she had already sorted this out with her father (whom I haven’t seen since turning eighteen and have no contact with), but apparently, she hadn’t informed him until now.
Her father has custody of her half the time, and I’m unsure if legally, we’re allowed to let her stay here full-time if he wants her to come home. If she refuses to leave, do we have a legal obligation to compel her? Could we be harboring a runaway by letting her stay here? Would I be legally responsible too, even though I’m not her parent and can’t directly resolve this situation myself?
Our best friend has joint custody with his ex-wife. Their 16-year-old has filed paperwork to choose his dad (our friend) as his full-time legal parent. In our state, the teen’s choice is almost always the final decision due to his age. The lawyer agrees that Dad will get full custody because of the teen’s choice. However, the kid is terrified to go back to his mom once she is served because her husband is intimidating, and he doesn’t want to be guilted or coerced. The lawyer said they can’t do anything to change the current schedule during the month it takes to process the paperwork. The teen says he will flat-out refuse to go to his mom after she is served because he’s scared. If the mom were to call the police, what would they likely do? The son is prepared to show the cops his affidavit, explain that he has already filed, that they have a court date, and that things are in the works, emphasizing that his dad is not keeping him from going.
If the teen refuses to accompany his mother and shows the police his affidavit and court paperwork, the officers will most likely prioritize his safety and evaluate the legal documents. Due to his worries and the ongoing legal proceedings, the police will most likely not force him to accompany his mother. They may contact child protective services or send the matter to family court, but the scenario is emotionally difficult for the teen.